Elementary School
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Elementary school begins in Kindergarten at TCGIS and goes through fourth grade. Kindergarten is the traditional grade level in the US in which students begin their formal education. In German-speaking countries in Europe, “elementary school” begins in 1st grade.
Our Kindergarten is a fusion of U.S. and German traditions. Our focus is on school readiness and the social-emotional development of our students. Our students begin hearing German on their first day of school! As the students pick up repeated words and phrases, the teachers introduce more German in the classroom. As is the case in learning a new language, teachers begin with colors (Farben), letters (Buchstaben), and greetings/commands: Danke (thank you), Bitte (please and welcome), and “Sitzen auf dem Boden!” (sit on the carpet!) |
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One difference between a typical U.S. school and our German school is the fact that our 1st/2nd grade teachers loop with the same students. This means that the students have the same classmates and same teacher for two years in a row. Students are reassigned between 2nd and 3rd grades. We do the same looping with 3rd and 4th grade.
Students will hear their homeroom teachers speaking German throughout most of their day. Math, social studies, science, and (of course) German are taught in German. Our homeroom teachers are proficient in both German and English. Elementary students will also hear German spoken in most of their specialist classes. Students rotate through Sport (PE), Drama/Music, and Art. Our students work up from primarily speaking English during their day in Kindergarten and 1st grade to hearing, speaking, reading, and writing in German throughout the majority of their days in 3rd and 4th grades. We introduce formal English instruction in 3rd grade and loop with the same English teacher into 4th grade. |
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Elementary School Highlights:
We welcome chaperones for many of our field trips as well as classroom volunteers. |
