Thornwood High School - Thunderbird Yearbook (South Holland, IL)

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Many reach potential using special program: Helping students progress was the goal of the certified teachers and paraprofessionals in Thornwood's Special Education department. Ms. Arlene Morgantini headed the de- partment in helping nearly one hun- dred fifty students in four different areas: resource learning, which uses materials such as the controlled reader to widen vocabularies and in- crease reading comprehensiong be- havior disordersg learning disabil- itiesg and speech therapy. Indepen- dent study and self-directed learn- ing put the more advanced students on their own to use outside resource learning as well as the library to complete individual projects at their own pace. Ms. Morgantini summed up this year by rejoicing, I love to see a student reach his potential, and this year, many did! Above: To better understand his assignment, Joe Germolec asks Miss Culp to explain a par- ticular section. Above Right: Gary Zandy pauses to listen to Ms. Zakzewski's definition of a term. Right: Searching for the answers to oral quiz questions Beverly DeNeal, Amanda Griffin, and Anita Croswell take time to think the questions out. 180 SPECIAL PROGRAMS

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Social studies students exercise citizenship , 4 q , .4 I , M p V ,,,,. I 4 v I 3 , Psychology, sociology, urban liv- ing, and American law were just a few of the classes offered this year along with the required I.S.S. and U.S. history courses. Through these subjects the students investigated not ony the U.S. constitution and geography, but also individual and group behavior, human relations, and court procedures. Department chairman Mr. Al Van- Dyke stated that the main purpose of the Social Studies department is to prepare students to meet the de- mands of citizenship and to exercise their citizenship in order to preserve a democratic lifestyle. , World history was not one of the courses available this year, but Mr. VanDyke felt it was an important class. He said, We need a third re- quired course. Students need world history, geography, and economics. We are poor in these areas. 'R'-if.. t S ,, , Above: Trying to remember the main points of the chapter, Debbie Wilhelm skims through her history book before taking a test. Above Left: Mr. Pentek explains key map symbols as his class listens intently. Left: Donna Fayta gives Mr. McCune a hand by helping him grade papers. SOCIAL STUDIES 179

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fig im! Above: Because most special education class- rooms are small, Michael Moon finds time to quietly concentrate on his homework without being disturbed. Top Left: Vanessa Haymon adjusts the film in her speed reader which uses many interest- ing stories to increase reading comprehen- sion. Top Right: Ms. Eagle smiles as she finds the slide she needs to present the day's lesson. Left: Eva Hoskins finds that working with Mrs. McCarthy is much more rewarding than working alone. SPECIAL PROGRAMS 181