Welcome to an overview of academics at Garcia Elementary! 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 specials, Gifted & Talented, and 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.
Garcia first graders are busy every day with a variety of literacy skills. Each day is filled with many opportunities to read: the weekly focus poem, a shared book, guided reading in a small group setting and a sustained silent reading time. One of the goals of the first grade teachers is to have all of their students "fall in love with reading!"
Suggested Reading Strategies at Home
Garcia first graders are writing, illustrating and publishing their own books in their classrooms. This is an exciting way for them to work together, build their confidence and take pride in their accomplishments. What a creative group they're proving to be!
Science and social studies are integrated into the reading program. The goal is to guide children to apply the skills they learn in reading to the acquisition of knowledge through reading information books, magazines, and children's encyclopedias. This develops their associative skills, as well as the "basic skills." Interest is high because children are naturally curious about the world in which they live.
Garcia 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.
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.
During the year we will teach our second graders to implement strategies related to problem-solving in math. We will extend their educational experience by focusing on increasing fluency and strengthening reading comprehension skills. Second grade is a year of transition in which the students will become more independent thinkers and learners. This will enable them to have the skills needed to achieve success as they move through the upper grades.
The third grade at Garcia Elementary is the place to be! Education is student centered. We focus on active learning, research, hands-on activities, and extending thinking skills. Technology and using the internet are a priority. Students are learning word processing skills, Kid Pix, and Power Point presentations. Keyboarding, using software such as Math Keys, and curriculum related web sites are an integral part of technology instruction.
Some of the goals that we would like to see the students in third grade accomplish are: Have a strong respect for themselves, other students, and authority figures. Have self-discipline. Learn to be responsible. Learn to use time effectively, develop organizational skills, and become confident learners.
Our goal for Garcia Elementary 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.
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:
Garcia Elementary is equipped with a Bridges' (SOI) Learning Lab. These labs target students who are not reaching their academic potential or those who have not been successful on the state assessment tests.
Cognition before content: Bridges focuses on the quality of students. Are they able to think? Are they prepared to learn? Can their abilities be improved? Bridges assesses, profiles, and develops cognition and perception-the abilities and skills that are essential to the classroom- enabling learners to become quality students.
The success of Bridges/SOI can be traced directly to fundamental science:
intelligence is not fixed at birth
multiple intelligences can be developed
a student's "teachability" can be nurtured at any age
Learning is dependent on more than just the teacher and the curriculum, but the student and his or her ability to learn.
SOI is founded on the fact that the brain is the cornerstone of education. If students aren't able to process, or retain information, it doesn't matter what you teach them or how you teach them, they're not going to learn.
"D" students-even "B" students-very often have a desire to succeed that exceeds their ability to learn. They may be strong in some areas and weak in others. They may have 20/20 eyesight, but can't read left to right or compute right to left. They may work well with close supervision, but they have trouble working individually.
The Bridges SOI/IPP program works to improve attention span, memory, comparison/contrast thinking, eye-hand coordination, systems reasoning and other skills essential to the learning process, helping students perform better in school and life.
Elementary Gifted students take part in a pull out program in grades 1-4th.
The campus Gifted Specialist provides instruction for this regularly scheduled class. Curriculum units at this level are interdisciplinary and based on broad themes.
These units incorporate logical critical and creative thinking skills into the core academic areas of math, reading, science, and social studies. independent research opportunities allow students to investigate specific topics of interest and to develop sophisticated products.
The visual arts program at Garcia Elementary is designed to meet the lifelong learning needs of our students by providing a meaningful experience that allows the development of problem solving and studio skills.
The Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills are incorporated within each unit of study to meet the states’ curricular objectives and expectations. Students are taught through the use of a Discipline Based Art Education strategy that integrates aesthetics, criticism, history, and production.
Another strategy for learning from an artwork that is gained by students is the Feldman Model for Critical Inquiry. It teaches students how to look at art, and what to look for in it. The process involves a foundational approach where you first, list the elements of art through describing, analyze these elements by organizing them with the principles of design, interpret any moods and feelings being conveyed by the work, and finally evaluate the work by placing artistic merit on the success and aesthetic value of the artwork.
Music
In Music, students perform, create, and respond to music. Students sing, play instruments, listen, and move to music. They 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 periods of history.
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.
PE
Our philosophy in teaching is to encourage the best possible development of all children regardless of their different needs and ability levels. Emphasis on cooperation over competition and the acquisition of lifetime skills, such as flexibility and strength, are the goals of the Physical Education program.
Our ultimate goal in teaching children is to design a program that will guide them toward becoming physically, mentally, and socially functioning individuals that will prepare each child to live in today's complex society, and in the future.
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