ELEMENTARY
AN EXCELLENT FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE SUCCESS
WELCOME TO ELEMENTARY
Welcome to the elementary school community!
It is our mission to provide a nurturing and inspiring learning environment for each child in our care. In elementary school, students are able to experience a range of activities and learning experiences which provide them with opportunities to develop socially, emotionally, spiritually, academically, and physically. At each grade level, students are taught the core academic subjects through a Christ-integrated curriculum, while also receiving instruction in art, music, P.E., library skills, and Thai language. National Korean and National Thai students receive additional instruction in their heart languages.
ENGAGING ACTIVITIES
Throughout the school year, elementary students have the opportunity to engage in a number of activities. These include the following:
- CHAPEL - A year-round chapel program for grades K–6 (Tuesday mornings from 8:15-9:05 twice a month). Parents are welcome to attend.
- CHAPEL TEAMS - Include drama, puppetry and worship teams
- STEM NIGHT - (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) for grades 3–6 (every other year)
- CLUBS - For grades 3–6. Examples include creative worship, origami, art, creative dance, running, puppetry and a critter club.
- READING MONTH - March is Reading Month – a whole month of activities devoted to reading (including our very popular Book Character Parade)
- ELEVATE - A week-long chapel program with a different emphasis/theme each year
- FIELD TRIPS - Usually by grade and related to specific areas of study
- SHOWCASES - Christmas and Spring music showcases
- 100 DAYS - 100 Day Celebration (Grades K–2)
- YEAR END - End of Year Celebration (last day of school)
PROGRAMS
ACADEMIC PROGRAM
The elementary team believes that each child can experience success and teachers and support staff are dedicated to bringing out the best in each student. We have specific and measurable benchmarks at each grade level but our emphasis is on individual student growth. We want children to master concepts fully and reach grade level benchmarks but we are aware that children all develop at different rates and by different means. Teachers endeavor to meet children where they are at and gently lead them from that point.
DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP
At GIS, students begin learning how to be responsible, respectful, safe digital citizens at a young age. As part of their weekly library class, Elementary students discuss online safety and make connections between their online and offline lives. We use the curriculum from Commonsense Media as a starting point for these conversations.
RECESS
Play is a very important part of a child’s development. Each grade level has three recesses each day. Rainy recesses will be in The Atrium, our indoor covered area and/or on the covered courts.
CURRICULUM
A Biblically Integrated, American-Style, College Preparatory Curriculum
At Grace International School, we offer an American-style, college preparatory curriculum that covers a broad base of topics while integrating biblical truths into the classroom. GIS students will be equipped with the tools and knowledge to not just excel in prestigious universities and their career, but also to impact the world for Christ.
At the elementary level, all students study the core curriculum (language arts, math, science, social studies, Bible) and other special subjects (music, art, library, P.E, Thai, Korean and Thai for nationals). Through our elementary curriculum, students are taught the foundational knowledge required to excel in secondary school and outside the classroom.
CLASS DETAILS
Number of classes – 2 (KA and KB)
Maximum Class Size – 16 students
Parents may choose a half of full-day option
CORE CURRICULUM
Reading – Phonics (sounds, letters, blending, etc.)
Reading Centers (pre-reading activities, reading strategies)
Sight words
Penmanship (letter formation)
Prewriting and writing activities
Calendar Time
Math (Pearson Envision)
Science (FOSS) and social studies are integrated into the Kindergarten program
Bible
SPECIALS
Art
Music
Library
P.E.
Thai
CLASS DETAILS
Number of classes – 2 (1A and 1B)
Maximum Class Size – 16 students
CORE CURRICULUM
Guided Reading
Phonics/spelling
Grammar
Writing
Penmanship (letter formation)
Centers (includes social studies and science activities based on topic of study)
Math (Pearson Envision)
Science (FOSS)
SPECIALS
Art
Music
Library
P.E.
Thai
Korean and Thai for nationals
CLASS DETAILS
Number of classes – 2 (2A and 2B)
Maximum Class Size – 18 students
CORE CURRICULUM
Guided Reading
Phonics
Spelling
Writing
Math (Pearson Envision)
Science (FOSS)
Bible (ACSI)
SPECIALS
Art
Music
Library
P.E.
Thai
Korean and Thai for nationals
CLASS DETAILS
Number of classes – 2 (3A and 3B)
Maximum Class Size – 18 students
CORE CURRICULUM
Daily 5 – Reading, writing, word work
Spelling (Words their Way)
Math (Pearson Envision)
Social Studies
Bible (ACSI)
Science (FOSS)
SPECIALS
Art
Music
Library
P.E.
Thai
Korean and Thai for nationals
CLASS DETAILS
Number of classes – 2 (4A and 4B)
Maximum Class Size – 20 students
CORE CURRICULUM
Reading
Spelling/vocabulary
Grammar
Writing
Math (Pearson Envision)
Science (FOSS)
Social Studies
Bible (ACSI)
SPECIALS
Art
Music
Library
P.E.
Thai
Number of classes – 2 (5A and 5B)
Maximum Class Size – 20 students
CORE CURRICULUM
Reading
Language Arts – writing, spelling, grammar
Math (Pearson Envision)
Science (FOSS)
Social Studies – Geography, American History (exploration, colonization, revolutions, and the establishment of democracy)
Bible (ACSI Purposeful Design)
SPECIALS
Art
Music
Library
P.E.
Thai
Korean and Thai for nationals
Number of classes – 2 (6A and 6B)
Maximum Class Size – 24 students
CORE CURRICULUM
Language Arts – reading, writing, spelling/vocabulary, grammar
Math (Pearson Envision)
Science (FOSS)
Social Studies – Ancient Civilizations—Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, Ancient China, Ancient Greece
Bible (ACSI Purposeful Design)
SPECIALS
Art
Music
Library
P.E.
Thai
Korean and Thai for nationals
The aim of Korean class at GIS is to assist elementary Korean students in developing their speaking, listening, writing, and reading skills. All national Korean students in grades 3–6 who are not in ESL support will have Korean class three times a week. Students who do not yet meet GIS standards for English fluency must remain in ESL support. Once they meet our English fluency standards, they can attend Korean class.
Korean class at GIS consists of three parts: reading, culture, and grammar. When students study reading, they will be exposed to a Korean context by reading, thinking about, and responding to books written by native Korean authors. These books also contain traditional idioms, expressions, syntax, spelling, and vocabulary. When students study Korean culture, they experience different events, songs, arts and crafts, cooking, and dancing just like Koreans would in Korea. Students usually enjoy this part of the class the most. Students also study Korean grammar because this is often one of the weaker areas for Korean TCKs/MKs.
Please see the attached parent letter that gives more details about our program. If you come to study at GIS, I look forward to seeing you in my class.
초등학교 한국어 수업소개
GIS에서 한국어 수업의 목적은 한국 학생들의 말하기, 듣기, 쓰기 읽기 능력을 향상하는 것입니다. 3학년-6학년 학생 중 ESL 지원을 받지 않는 모든 한국 학생들은 일주일에 3회씩 수업을 받습니다. 학생의 영어 실력이 GIS 표준 기준에 부합하지 않을 경우, ESL 지원을 받아야 합니다. 학생의 영어 실력이 GIS 표준 기준에 도달하게 되면, 한국어 수업에 참여할 수 있습니다.
GIS 한국어 수업은 읽기, 문화, 문법의 세 영역으로 구성됩니다. 학생들이 ‘읽기’ 수업을 할 때, 한국 저자가 쓴 책을 읽고, 주제를 생각하고, 관련 활동을 하면서 한국적 상황을 경험할 수 있습니다. 이런 한국 도서들은 고전적인 숙어, 관용적 표현, 구문론, 맞춤법, 어휘 등을 포함하고 있습니다. ‘문화’ 수업을 받을 때, 경험하는 다양한 활동, 노래, 미술, 공예, 요리와 춤을 통해 학생들은 한국에 사는 것처럼 한국 문화를 배웁니다. 일반적으로 학생들은 한국 문화에 관련된 수업을 가장 좋아합니다.
또한, 학생들은 ‘한국어 문법’도 배웁니다. 왜냐하면, 재외초등학생 및 한국 선교사 자녀들(TCK/MK)에게 문법 영역은 가장 취약한 부분이기 때문입니다. 학업에 대한 부담과 스트레스를 줄이면서 한국어 실력을 향상하기 위해 학생들이 직접 쓴 글에서 발견할 수 있는 문법적 오류를 통해 실제적인 문법 수업을 진행합니다. .
한국어 수업에 관련된 더 자세한 사항을 기재한 학부모 레터를 첨부했으니 참고하시기 바랍니다.
여러분이 GIS에 공부하러 온다면, 한국어 수업(교실)에서 만날 것을 기대합니다.
한국어 수업에 관련된 더 자세한 사항을 기재한 학부모 레터를 첨부했으니 참고하시기 바랍니다.
여러분이 GIS에 공부하러 온다면, 한국어 수업(교실)에서 만날 것을 기대합니다.
Academic Standards & Review Cycle
Every 8 years, our resources are refreshed with all teachers being involved in the choosing of the resources. GIS has adopted the following standards, K–12, vertically aligned within each educational department.
GIS ACADEMIC STANDARDS
- Language Arts - AERO Standards
- Math - Common Core State Standards
- Performing Arts - AERO Standards
- Physical Education - SHAPE Standards
- Religious Studies - GIS In-House Standards
- Science - Next Generation Science Standards
- Social Studies - AERO Standards
- Technology and Design - ISTE Standards
- Thai - Ministry of Education Standards
- Visual Arts - GIS In-House Standards
- World Languages - GIS In-House Standards
ASSESSMENTS
GRADES K - 2
A variety of in-house assessments are used in the lower grades to assess students’ skills in reading, language arts, writing, and math DRA (Developmental Reading Assessment). This is an individual test that assesses a child’s reading level based on a Level A–Z scale, and is used in grades K–2.
DRA END OF YEAR BENCHMARKS
- Kindergarten - Level C
- Grade 1 - Level I
- Grade 2 - Level M
STAR ASSESSMENT
STAR reader assessment is a computer adaptive test administered 2-4 times a year in grades 1 (2nd semester) and grade 2 to measure individual reading progress.
GRADES 3–6
Again a variety of in-house and other assessments are used to measure student growth in all academic content areas.
MAP
MAP – (Measures of Academic Progress) this computer adaptive assessment is one of the assessment tools used to measure progress in grades 3–6. Students are tested in August/September and again in April/May. MAP measures what students know and gives teachers an accurate measure of student performance, whether a student meets or exceeds grade level expectations. MAP results help teachers plan instruction.
STAR READER/AR (ACCELERATED READER)
The STAR reader assessment is administered between 2–4 times a year and measures individual student progress in reading. Accelerated Reader is a reading program that allows students to work towards quarterly goals (set by the teacher) and read books within their specific reading level in order to experience maximum growth.
communication
We know that it is important for you to be aware of what your child is doing in school. We communicate to you about how your child is doing through report cards and parent conferences.
REPORTS
- K–6 reports are emailed to parents at the end of each quarter
- K-3 students are assessed using a numeric scale (4, 3, 2, 1)
- 4th-6th grade students are assessed using both a numeric (4, 3, 2,1) and grading scale for core subjects (A, B,C, etc.)
- All students are assessed on behavior skills using a numeric scale. Teachers use a behavior rubric to assess students in this area.
PARENT CONFERENCES
These take place the week prior to the October break (Thursday and Friday all day)
