ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

 

Stamford's Elementary program focuses on the total growth of the child, addressing their social, physical, emotional and cultural needs in addition to academic achievement. Students from Pre-Primary (Kindergarten) to Grade 5 enjoy an inquiry-based curriculum framework integrated with the rigorous American Education Reaches Out (AERO) and Common Core Plus standards. The Elementary curriculum places a strong focus on social studies, language, the arts, physical education, mathematics and science.

Assessment & Achievement

Every student’s achievements are continually assessed. Internally, teachers use a variety of assessment techniques including testing for knowledge and skills, observations, portfolios of student’s work and analysis of book, project and practical work. Attitude, learning skills, social relationships and effort are considered equally important when looking at the overall development of the child.

Fountas & Pinnell Literacy^TM

Mastering reading skills from a young age is not only crucial for reaching milestones in language and communication, but also linked to higher academic performance across math, science and social concepts. All students from Pre-Primary (Kindergarten) through Grade 5 will undergo regular in-class reading assessments through the Fountas & Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System (BAS). These assessments allow us to deliver individualized reading programs based on each child's reading level, as well as to determine and report on the growth of each student during the academic year. Every classroom is equipped with its own library containing a dedicated set of leveled reading programs in core subject areas, including leveled books in Science and Engineering, giving our students access to a wealth of books and resources at their fingertips.

Measures of Academic Progress^®

Every student will undergo standardized Measures of Academic Progress® (MAP®) assessments twice a year. Administered each Fall and Spring, these results are benchmarked according to U.S. and International norms to determine each student's instructional level, allowing us to deliver individual learning plans and measure students' academic growth throughout the school year, and from year to year. Students in Pre-Primary through Grade 10 participate in the MAP® Math and Reading assessments, and students in Grades 3 through 9 participate in the MAP® Science assessments.

Created by educators for educators, MAP® assessments provide detailed, actionable data about where each child is on their unique learning path. MAP® is a computerized test, which dynamically adapts to student’s response as they take the test. If a student answers a question correctly they proceed to a more challenging question and if a student misses a question the test offers them a simpler question. In this way MAP® tests are unique in that they adapt to be appropriate for each student's level of learning. As a result, each student has the same opportunity to succeed and maintain a positive attitude toward testing.

MAP® data is used within the school to differentiate instruction. The RIT scores provided for each student allows teachers to identify the standards-based developmental level for each student and therefore to construct learning goals based on the next set of standards that are individually relevant. For more information, click here.