Academics
Academics
Welcome to an overview of academics at Austin Environmental Science Academy! Use the tabs on this page to browse each grade level and subject.
This page offers an overview of the exciting learning progression for each grade level. You'll find summaries of the core subjects, as well as subjects like specials, Gifted & Talented, Bilingual/ESL, highlighting the key concepts and skills we're thrilled to introduce your child to. We're looking forward to a year of engaging lessons and meaningful learning experiences.”
Pre-K
Kinder
Come visit our Pre-K and Kindergarten at Austin Environmental Science Academy. You will see active learning in our classrooms through language activities, word walls, big books, poems, calendar activities, math manipulatives, learning centers, and more. We have been learning letters and shapes such as hexagon, octagon and are going to start on 3-dimensional forms.
Tips for Parents
- Be on time to school. Students are late after the 8:10 bell
- Don’t forget to send a jacket on cold mornings. Recess is in the morning at 10:00 am
- Be at school everyday, unless running a fever or have a contagious infection
- Read to your child every day and let them see your read
- Students have homework each week on the focus letters
- Students need pencils, crayons, scissors and glue at home to complete homework assignments
- Check and sign your child's red folder everyday. Homework is sent out every Monday and should be turned in every Friday
- Remove notes and papers that do not need to be returned to school
- Please put lunch/snack money in your child's account instead of sending money each day
- Work with your child to learn how to spell their first and last name
Please contact your teacher if you need anything.
1st
At Austin Environmental Science Academy, we believe that a strong foundation in reading begins early. Below you will find the strategies that we teach our students in the classroom. We encourage you to use these strategies when you are reading with your children at home.
Austin first graders are being taught to think mathematically and to reason. With lots of "hands on" lessons using a variety of manipulatives, they are learning to see relationships and patterns and to use numbers with confidence to solve problems. They are learning far more than arithmetic; they are delving into measurement, geometry, statistics and probability.
Tips for Parents:
- Remember to practice reading everyday!
- Look for words you know. Look for word bits and parts
- Self-Correct
- Read ahead - Read aloud
- Use picture clues to confirm predictions
- Sequence events/Summarize
- Use word order and context to confirm meaning
- Create mental images and make inference
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2nd
Our goal is to prepare our students for life's choices and challenges. We will maintain high expectations and challenge students to learn, grow, and achieve to each student's highest possible potential. We will enhance the learning process by fostering an atmosphere of respect, love and dignity.
What Good Readers Do
Each current 2nd Grade student is encouraged to be reading at least on level 28 with adequate comprehension and fluency before going to the 3rd Grade. Parents are encouraged to continue reading with their child at home. Below are some reading techniques that we teach our students when they encounter a difficult or unknown word.
- Skip it and go back. Read the remainder of the sentence for context clues.
- Look at the picture for clues.
- Stretch the word out.
- Look for word parts (chunks) that you know.
- If all the above was attempted - ask someone
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3rd
Third-graders can:
- Read fluently and enjoy reading
- Use a range of strategies when drawing meaning from the text
- Use word identification strategies appropriately and automatically when encountering unknown words
- Recognize and discuss elements of different text structures
- Make critical connections between texts
- Write expressively in many different forms (stories, poems, reports)
- Use a rich variety of vocabulary and sentences appropriate to text forms
- Revise and edit their own writing during and after composing
- Spell words correctly in final writing drafts
What teachers do:
- Provide opportunities daily for children to read, examine, and critically evaluate narrative and expository texts
- Continue to create a climate that fosters critical reading and personal response
- Teach children to examine ideas in texts
- Encourage children to use writing as a tool for thinking and learning
- Extend children's knowledge of the correct use of writing conventions
- Emphasize the importance of correct spelling in finished written products
- Create a climate that engages all children as a community of literacy learners
What parents and family members can do:
- Continue to support children's learning and interest by visiting the library and bookstores with them
- Find ways to highlight children's progress in reading and writing
- Stay in regular contact with your child's teachers about activities and progress in reading and writing
- Encourage children to use and enjoy print for many purposes (such as recipes, directions, games, and sports)
- Build a love of language in all its forms and engage children in conversation
Reading Tips
Read every night
Encourage independent reading
Ask questions after they finish reading
Discover new genres
Math Tips
Make math fun in the kitchen
Apply real world strategies
Talk with them about what they learn
Have a reward system
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4th
Our goal for Austin Environmental Science Academy fourth grade is to ensure success for each student by providing a supportive and loving environment. We realize that fourth grade is both a vital and transitional time for students. Writing across the curriculum is a priority, and integrating all subjects is our focus. Teaching our students the character traits they will need to survive in today's world and in the future is a daily objective.
Homework is an important review of concepts covered in class. Students will have homework daily Monday through Thursday. Each night the student will have Math and Language Arts. Students are required to keep a Reading Log reflecting their nightly reading.
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5th
The goal of Austin Environmental Science Academy fifth grade is to provide a secure environment which is conducive to learning and building self esteem. Fifth grade students are developing into responsible, independent learners as they prepare to enter middle school. Problem-solving within math and science is greatly emphasized. Incorporating technology links to enhance learning is encouraged both at school and home.
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Music
Music education is an integral part of children’s education. It provides an avenue for children to express themselves and their emotions in a way that only music can. Music enforces a higher level of thinking and reasoning that improves children’s capacity to learn and comprehend. Because of having music education, children will lead better-rounded lives.
At Austin, students perform, create, and respond to music. Students sing, play instruments, listen, and move to music. They also read, notate, analyze, and evaluate music. Students are exposed to music of their culture and from different parts of the world, as well as many historical periods.
Check out our photos below to see what we've been up to in class and on stage!
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Show Choir Music
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Show Choir Music
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Show Choir Music
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2nd Grade
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1st Grade Concert Music
PE
At Austin, our physical education program emphasizes fun, fitness, and fundamentals. I hope to develop social and physical skills through games, rhythms, and sport activities. Wellness and safety concepts are highlighted during our various activities. New games and activities are added yearly to motivate students to want to come and learn, participate, and have fun. We follow a daily routine of running, warm-up, instruction, and activity. Fitness assessments are administered once a year. Age-appropriate activities are considered for students to achieve success and a feeling of satisfaction. I emphasize activity and enjoyment over competition. In physical education classes, character always counts!
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AVID
Austin’s Campus Focus for the year is organization
We will be implementing the use of take-home folders for K-2, and Student Planners for 3-5th grade. The students will learn to self-monitor, record daily homework assignments, and keep track of important dates and school activities. This will also give parents and guardians an opportunity to support their child’s learning.
The goal of Austin’s AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program will be for our at-risk students in grades 3 -5 to challenge themselves daily with a rigorous curriculum provided by the district/campus, be required to join school activities in a positive manner while making preparation to achieve the goal of going to college. The potential AVID student will attend school regularly, come prepared for class, be self-motivated, have a willing and positive attitude to work hard.
What is AVID for Elementary?
AVID Elementary consist of teaching and reinforcing academic behaviors and higher-level thinking at a young age. Elementary students develop the academic habits they will need to be successful in middle school, high school, and college, in an age-appropriate and challenging way. In AVID Elementary Children learn about organization, study skills, communication, and self-advocacy.
Mission
The mission of AVID’s program is to ensure all students will:
- Demonstrate Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading Skills
- Utilize organization skills
- Develop student success skills
- Successfully make the transition to middle school
AVID is not just another program…
at its heart,AVID is a philosophyHold students accountable to the highest standards,
provide academic and social support,
and they will rise to the challenge.
- Improve students academic record
- Make students college ready
- Produce strong writers and readers
- Promote critical thinkers
- Collaborate with groups
- Building leaders
Bilingual/ESL
For elementary students in GPISD, Bilingual/ESL Programs provides a dual language program whose goal is bilingualism, biliteracy, and biculturalism. In this program, we provide one and two-way models, according to the needs of our campuses. In each of the models, the subjects contained in the curriculum are divided between the two languages of instruction, which are Spanish and English. No matter the language of instruction, the focus of the program is to develop knowledge of the necessary content in a way that can be transferred. The uniqueness of these models lies not in the way the subjects are taught, but in the students, who compose the classes.
A los alumnos de primaria en GPISD proveemos un programa de lenguaje dual cuya meta es de ayudar a los alumnos a lograr el domino en hablar, escribir y leer en dos idiomas, y valorar de forma equitativa dos culturas. Este programa se ofrece mediante los modelos de una y de dos vías, de acuerdo con las necesidades de cada campus. En ambos modelos las materias del currículo se dividen entre los dos lenguajes de enseñanza - inglés y español. Independientemente del lenguaje de enseñanza, el enfoque del programa es el desarrollo del conocimiento de la materia de modo que el alumno pueda transferirlo de un idioma al otro. La distinción entre los dos modelos consiste no en la manera en que se presenta la enseñanza, sino en los alumnos que componen las clases.
English
Spanish
One-Way
In a one-way classroom, all the students are from a non-English-speaking background. They are consistently provided with opportunities to acquire English. Beginning students learn to read and write in their native language, and these skills are later transferable to English. The student’s native language is not subtracted as English develops. It continues to be developed, with the end result being that students who complete the program will be proficient readers, writers, and speakers of both languages.
En el salón de una vía, todos los alumnos son de antecedentes de habla no inglesa. De forma consistente se les proveen oportunidades para adquirir el inglés. Los alumnos principiantes aprenden a leer y escribir en su idioma natal, y después pueden transferir estas destrezas al inglés. El desarrollo del idioma natal del alumno no se suspende mientras desarrolla el inglés. La habilidad del lenguaje sigue aumentando en los dos idiomas y el resultado es que al completar el programa entero los alumnos serán competentes en leer, escribir, y hablar los dos idiomas.
Elementary campuses that offer one-way dual language are:
- Austin Environmental Science Academy
- Bowie Fine Arts Academy
- Global Leadership Academy at Barbara Bush Elementary
- Daniels Academy of Science and Math
- Morton Elementary
- Dickinson Montessori Academy
- Eisenhower Elementary
- Garcia Elementary
- Marshall Leadership Academy
- Ochoa STEM Academy
- Rayburn Elementary STEAM Academy
- Seguin Elementary
- Whitt Fine Arts Academy
- Williams Elementary
- De Zavala Environmental Science Academy
Two-Way
In the two-way model, each class is composed of both native English speakers and speakers of other languages. The goal is to have both languages equally represented. Each language group receives initial literacy, reading and writing instruction, in their native language, whether that be English or Spanish. Once students reach 2nd grade, all students receive both English and Spanish literacy equally. For this reason, our Two-Way program cannot accept Opt-in students past 1st semester of 1st grade unless they have a documented Dual Language history. This will ensure students can be successful when they reach second grade literacy in both languages across content areas.
As with the one-way model, the subjects in the curriculum are purposefully divided between the two languages. This arrangement allows students to transfer their knowledge of the subjects from one language to the other. The ultimate goal is the same as for the one-way model: proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking in two languages.
En el modelo Dual de dos vías, cada clase está compuesta tanto por hablantes nativos de inglés como por hablantes de otros idiomas. El objetivo es que ambos idiomas estén igualmente representados. Cada grupo lingüístico recibe instrucción inicial de alfabetización, lectura y escritura en su idioma nativo, ya sea inglés o español. Una vez que los estudiantes llegan al segundo grado, todos los estudiantes reciben alfabetización tanto en inglés como en español por igual. Por esta razón, nuestro programa Dual de dos vías no puede aceptar estudiantes nativos de inglés después del 1er semestre de 1er grado, a menos que tengan un historial documentado de instrucción en un programa de lenguaje dual. Esto garantizará que los estudiantes puedan tener éxito cuando alcancen la alfabetización de segundo grado en ambos idiomas en todas las materias.
Al igual que con el modelo Dual de una vía, las materias del plan de estudios se dividen intencionalmente entre los dos idiomas. Esta división permite a los estudiantes transferir sus conocimientos de las materias de un idioma a otro. El objetivo final es el mismo que el del modelo Dual de una vía: dominio de la lectura, la escritura y el hablar en dos idiomas.
Elementary campuses that offer two-way dual language are:
Las escuelas que ofrecen el programa Dual de dos vías son:
- Mosely Elementary
- Travis World Language Academy
Gifted and Talented
What does GIFTED AND TALENTED MEAN?
“…gifted and talented student” means a child or youth who performs at or shows the potential for performing at a remarkably high level of accomplishment when compared to others of the same age, experience, or environment and who:
-exhibits high performance capability in an intellectual, creative, or artistic area
-possesses an unusual capacity for leadership
-excels in a specific academic field” -The State of Texas
Elementary Gifted & Talented students take part in a pull out program in grades 1-5.
The campus Gifted Specialist provides instruction for the pull out classes. Curriculum units at this level are interdisciplinary and based on broad themes. The units capture the high levels of achievement that GT students are able to exhibit. They incorporate logical critical and creative thinking skills into the core academic areas of math, reading, writing, science, and social studies. Independent research opportunities allow students to investigate specific topics of interest and to develop sophisticated products.
Links
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