Academics
Academics
Welcome to an overview of academics at Rayburn Elementary STEAM 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.
Kindergarten
Kindergarten at Rayburn Elementary! You will see active learning in the four classrooms through language activities, word walls, big books, poems, calendar activities, math manipulatives, learning centers, and more. We are very proud of our kindergarten program at Rayburn, and encourage each of you to stop by for a visit.
Parent Tips
- Be on time to school. Students are late after the 8:10 bell.
- Be at school everyday, unless running a fever or have a contagious infection.
- Read to your child every day.
- 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.
- 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
Kindergarten Wish List
- Paper towels
- Baby wipes
- Dry erase markers/erasers
- Cotton balls
- q-tips
- toothpicks
- wiggly eyes
- pipe cleaners
- popsicle sticks
- tissue paper
- clothespins
- play dough
- colored paper
- gently used kitchen items ( pot holders, hand towels, serving utensils, storage containers, etc.)
1st
1st Grade
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
Rayburn 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.
Rayburn 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.
Rayburn 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!"
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.
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
We believe that all students can and will succeed if given the opportunity to do so. As educators, we facilitate this success by providing engaging lessons, building a trusting relationship with your child and yourself, and instilling within them a strong work ethic. In receiving your support, we expect to work as a team to ensure that your child achieves academic success in third grade, which in turn will serve as a building block for the following school year.
Please know that our goal is to create a positive partnership with you, and an enriched, learning environment for your child. As partners in education we can make this possible by always maintaining an open line of communication.
4th
Rayburn 4th graders are respectful, responsible, and ready learners working to develop academic and social skills that will help them throughout their lives. Teachers help students identify and develop natural talent and confidence in their abilities in the classroom, and provide many extracurricular opportunities for students to explore their interests. Students are held to high standards in and out of the classroom as citizens of their school community
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
Art
The visual arts program at Rayburn 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.
My goal is to have the kids be “Art Smart”
Music
“Music—
Speaks what cannot be expressed,
Soothes the mind and gives it rest,
Heals the heart and makes it whole,
Flows from heaven, to the soul.”
-Anonymous
Speaks what cannot be expressed,
Soothes the mind and gives it rest,
Heals the heart and makes it whole,
Flows from heaven, to the soul.”
-Anonymous
Welcome to an exciting and fun-filled year of music at Rayburn Elementary! Our students will be singing, playing instruments, moving to music, performing, and so much more! Not only will we explore the music of our culture, but we will also explore the music of other cultures from different parts of the world, as well as music from different time periods in history.
Not only is music fun, but it 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.
Music programs in Texas schools have the opportunity to give students a strong foundation in music history and in the knowledge and technical skills of musical performance and appreciation as non-professional musicians.
The goals for students in Texas music education programs include:
- Demonstrating an understanding of the components of artistic performance
- Understanding elements of music, such as melody, harmony, rhythm, and pitch, as they are used in musical compositions, analysis and performance.
- Listening to and participating in music as audience members and learning to make informed choices about music and musical performances.
- Demonstrating an understanding of the roles and significances of music in various cultures and historical periods.
- Utilizing musical knowledge and skills in the work and/or avocation of life after school.
I would also like to invite you to attend our PTA Meetings so you have the opportunity to see your child perform. PTA Meetings start at 7:00 and are held in the cafeteria. Each grade level will be featured in a performance at one of the PTA Meetings held during the school year. More information regarding the performance will be available prior to your child’s performance date.
Along with PTA Performances, there are other exciting performance opportunities available for your child at Rayburn Elementary. I will be taking a small group of 4th Graders to the Christmas Tree Lighting event in December. I will also be taking a group to perform at the Mayfest 2013 Event. (More information regarding each event will be available in the future.) Additionally, it gives me great pleasure to inform you that Rayburn Elementary will be performing a musical! The musical that we will perform is “Seussical Jr.”This opportunity will be offered to all 3rd and 4th grade students interested in participating. Students will have the opportunity to design sets and costumes as well as develop their performance experience and abilities. Be on the lookout for further information!
I hope you are as excited as I am for the future of the music department at Rayburn Elementary! Please let me know if you have any questions, concerns, or are interested in volunteering in the music department.
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.
Theatre Arts
Mission Statement
Theatre Arts is a new addition to Rayburn STEAM Academy. The main goals of this class are to help student reading abilities progress, assist student's inference skills, giving the student confidence, and to release the student creativity in a unique way.
Not every student is comfortable standing up in front of a group of their peers and performing, but in the theatre arts class, they will do more than just perform. The technical side of theatre will be explored, showing students that there is more to theatre than just acting, dancing, and singing. They will use their engineering skills to develop costume design, set design, and lighting design.
Within this class, student's will be using every element of the STEAM integration.
Science will be integrated through set design, costume design, and even the acting. Student's will act like animals they have learned about in class, or design a set using the Water Cycle as a prompt.
Technology will be used with the lighting design, and even with a virtual sock puppet app on the IPad.
Even math will be used to gain the right measurements for certain design projects.
The student's will leave this class with a new found confidence and interests that were not though of before.
