Academics & Classrooms
Due to the immersion component of our curriculum, children at John Stanford spend half of their day with one teacher and half the day with another. Below is a summary for the 2012-13 school year. (Blue = Japanese, Green = Spanish, White = English). Click HERE to see a list of this year's classroom representatives.
|
GRADE |
FALL |
WINTER |
||||
|
Reading |
Math |
Reading |
Math |
Reading |
Math |
|
|
Kindergarten |
Kindergarten Readiness |
Kindergarten Readiness |
MAP |
MAP |
MAP |
MAP |
|
First Grade |
Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA) or Teacher’s College Reading Assessment (TCRA) |
MAP |
MAP |
MAP |
MAP |
MAP |
|
Second Grade |
DRA |
MAP |
MAP |
MAP |
MAP |
MAP |
|
Third Grade |
TCRA |
Classroom Based Assessment Unit 1 Everyday Math Pre-Assessment |
MAP |
MAP |
MAP and MSP |
MAP and MSP |
|
Fourth Grade |
MAP |
MAP |
MAP |
MAP |
MAP and MSP |
MAP and MSP |
|
Fifth Grade |
MAP |
MAP |
MAP |
MAP |
MAP and MSP |
MAP and MSP |
leveled books and recording sheets designed to allow teachers to determine students' reading accuracy, fluency,
and comprehension levels.
· The MAP Assessment (Measure of Academic Progress) in fall is an optional district assessment (by
grade level). The fall testing window is September 24, 2012- October 19, 2012. Students that do not have
a spring 2012 score (Kindergarten students are not tested in fall) will need to take the MAP Assessment
this September to establish a baseline score. All students Kindergarten – 5th grade are tested in the winter
and spring using the MAP Assessment.
· Measurement of Student Progress (MSP) The Measurements of Student Progress (MSP) is the state’s
exam for students in grades 3-8. Testing is one subject per day, with the writing test occurring on two days.
Students are tested in reading (grades 3-8), mathematics (grades 3-8) science (grades 4 and 7) and writing
(grades 5 and 8).
· The Teacher’s College Reading Assessment (TCRA): The Teacher's College Reading and Writing
Program offers a set of informal reading inventories for narrative texts which correlates to the Fountas and
Pinnell system for leveling books. These assessments help teachers identify which level of texts students
can read independently and will therefore be able to practice all the reading strategies they are learning
during the Reading Workshop. The assessments provide an analysis of comprehension, miscues, and, fluency.
For more information about testing, please contact Asst. Principal Rhodes.
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English
“No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to
self-chosen ignorance.” - Confucius.
Read More About: Lucy Caulkins and the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project.
Immersion Language
Children learn a foreign language more adeptly if they are "immersed" in that language. Starting on day one of
their kindergarten year, our students spend half the day learning entirely in a second language. In the immersion
classroom, teachers speak only in their immersion language of either Japanese or Spanish. This enables the child to work toward complete proficiency in their second language. Our immersion teachers are usually native speakers. Every immersion classroom is staffed by a certificated Instructional Assistant (IA), lowering the student-teacher ratio to ~14:1.
Learn More: About Our School
Mathematics
Our elementary mathematics program, guided by Washington State standards approved in July of 2008, provides
a balance of:
• Conceptual Understanding
• Procedural Proficiency
• Problem-solving and Processes
Everyday Math provides a balanced approach that gives students a solid foundation based on the three components
listed above. In order to fully meet fifth-grade standards, two middle school CMP2 units (Prime Time and Bits and
Pieces I) have been moved to fifth grade.
Read More: About the Seattle Public School's Mathematics Program.
Music with Ms. Katie
Every student at John Stanford receives music instruction twice a week. In Music class, students learn singing
games and dances for fun and enjoyment of music, in addition to a variety of songs from cultures throughout the
world. Students also learn to read from musical notation, and put their skills to use on instruments in the classroom.
My goal is for them to love making music and to feel comfortable participating in songs and dances from any culture
and in any language.
We follow the curriculum map created by Seattle Public Schools for Elementary General Music. A copy of this
sequence of learning goals is on the Music Room Webpage. Students in all grades are assessed throughout the
year on their knowledge and performance of grade-level musical concepts, including rhythm, melody, and expression.
Fifth graders also take the state Classroom-Based Performance Assessment.International Education is a large part
of our learning in Music. Each year, we host an artist-in-residence in music, who teaches songs or instrumental
pieces from the continent featured in our International Arts Program for the year. Each class will perform in one
concert this year, in the spring. Throughout the year, student performances will be featured on the multimedia
blog on the Music Room Webpage so you can see and hear what your student and others are learning in Music.
Dances and active games are an important part of music. Students should come to class in clothes and shoes in
which they can move and play safely and in comfort.
Physical Education with Ms. U.
The Physical Education (PE) Program at John Stanford International School is activity based and introduces your
child to movement activities and motor skills in a variety of individual, lifetime, and team sports. My goal for my
students is for them to love to move, have fun, and want to lead an active life. We follow the Seattle School District
adopted Five for Life curriculum, which is health and fitness based. We practice good sportsmanship and work
cooperatively, so everyone can learn.
Students in the first through fifth grades are assessed in four components of fitness at least twice a year. The
components are the mile or half mile, curl-ups, push-ups, and the v-reach, which is a flexibility assessment. The
annual goal for each student is to improve his/her individual fitness scores. The fifth graders also take the written
Elementary Concepts of Health and Fitness Assessment.
International Education is a major focus at our school and in PE. March is “dance month” featuring an
artist-in-residence dancer. The dancer “guest teaches” classes for two weeks, and we learn dances from the
continent featured for the year in our International Arts Program. In June we have Field Day based on Japan’s
Sport Day. The school is divided into a Red Team and a White Team, and the events are held at Gas Works Park.
Safety is an important part of every PE class, and the students should wear appropriate shoes (no cowboy boots,
flip flops, party shoes, etc). They should also wear clothes they can easily move in, since they will be moving during
every class.