Academics
Academics
Welcome to an overview of academics at Bush Global Leadership 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 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.
Pre-K & Kindergarten
Core Principles of Montessori
- Mutual Respect based on Relationships
- Developmentally Appropriate Sensory Based Learning
- Individualized Learning/ Student Choice
- Orderly and Organized Environment
A true Montessori program has highly trained teachers, specific learning materials and a carefully planned curriculum that will help children:
- Learn cooperative social skills and collaboration with your community
- Develop self-control and concentration
- Learn to take initiative, independence, and self-confidence
- Develop an analytical mindset with hands-on learning
- And, most importantly, develop a lifelong joy, love, and excitement for learning
In the Montessori program, children are allowed the freedom of choice for their classroom activity and freedom of movement based on individual interest.
Teaching materials are provided in the following areas: practical life, sensorial, math, language, and cultural subjects.
Montessori programs for children over six years of age enable children to continue the exploration of the environment outside the classroom and further independent study of advanced academic and cultural areas based on individual interest.
1st
Dickinson first graders are busy every day with a variety of literacy skills. Each day is filled with many opportunities to read and write through the Daily Five. During our Daily Five time, students engage in “Read to Self”, “Word Work”, “Work on Writing”, “Listen to Reading”, and “Read to Someone Else”. Teachers also work with small reading groups each day so that students receive reading instruction at their personal reading levels.
Suggested Reading Strategies For the Home:
Dickinson 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.
Science and social studies are taught each day, as well. Our first graders will learn about properties, movement, soil, water, objects in the sky, animal life cycles, and many other scientific topics. In social studies, our focus is on our community, state, and country. Interest in both of these subjects is high because children are naturally curious about the world in which they live.
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.
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.
3rd
The third grade at Dickinson Elementary is the place to be! Education is student centered. We focus on active learning, research, hands-on activities, and extending thinking skills. It is our desire as a 3rd grade team to give our students the tools required to achieve academic success and become amazing leaders. We encourage responsibility and respect for all others. We strive to provide a secure and positive daily atmosphere as we develop life-long learners.
Some of the goals that we would like to see 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
4th
Our goal for Dickinson 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.
5th
The goal of Dickinson Elementary 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.
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
5th Grade
Webquest 1
Factors that affect Weather and Climate
Webquest 2
Made in America—American Revolution
4th Grade
Webquest 1
Food Chains & Webs
Webquest 2
Webquest 3
Native American Indians of Texas
3rd Grade
Webquest 1
Aliens Captured Ms. Keller
Webquest 2
Texas Tall Tales & Legends