Welcome to Twin Cities German Immersion School
  • HOME
  • About
    • Welcome to TCGIS
    • Our School
    • School Campus
    • Our Team
    • School Board
    • Careers >
      • Join our Team!
      • Intern Program
    • Org Chart
  • Family Resources
    • Rundbrief 2022-23
    • Infinite Campus Parent Portal
    • Communication Guidelines
    • Host an Intern
    • All Resources
  • Enroll
    • New Families
    • Enrollment
    • School Tours
    • Virtual School Tour
    • Transportation
    • FAQ
  • School Life
    • Food Service
    • Extracurricular Activities
    • Library
    • Summer Camps
    • Intern Program
    • Kinderclub
    • Athletics
  • Community
    • Fundraising
    • Volunteer
    • Alumni
    • PTO
    • In the Media
    • Exhibits
  • Academics
    • Pedagogical Concept >
      • K-8 Curriculum Maps
    • Elementary School
    • Middle School
    • New to German
    • Special Education
  • HOME
  • About
    • Welcome to TCGIS
    • Our School
    • School Campus
    • Our Team
    • School Board
    • Careers >
      • Join our Team!
      • Intern Program
    • Org Chart
  • Family Resources
    • Rundbrief 2022-23
    • Infinite Campus Parent Portal
    • Communication Guidelines
    • Host an Intern
    • All Resources
  • Enroll
    • New Families
    • Enrollment
    • School Tours
    • Virtual School Tour
    • Transportation
    • FAQ
  • School Life
    • Food Service
    • Extracurricular Activities
    • Library
    • Summer Camps
    • Intern Program
    • Kinderclub
    • Athletics
  • Community
    • Fundraising
    • Volunteer
    • Alumni
    • PTO
    • In the Media
    • Exhibits
  • Academics
    • Pedagogical Concept >
      • K-8 Curriculum Maps
    • Elementary School
    • Middle School
    • New to German
    • Special Education
Picture

Elementary School

Picture
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!)
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. ​
Picture
Picture

Elementary School Highlights:

  • As a Minnesota public charter school, Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs) begin in 3rd grade. 
  • The majority of subjects are taught in German.​​
  • Grades K-4 go on various outings, field trips, and events such as:
    • 4th Grade biking outing around Lake Como
    • State Float Parade
    • St. Martins Lantern Parade
    • Field trips to the Bell Museum, Science Museum of Minnesota, Gibbs Farm, Como Zoo, and more!

​We welcome chaperones for many of our field trips as well as classroom volunteers.
​Can't find what you're looking for? ​Search here:
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Hours

Office Hours
School Year: Mon.-Fri.​ 8:00am-4:00pm
Summer: Mon.-Fri.
​9:00am-12:00pm

Contact

Phone: 651.492.7106
Fax: ​651.330.2270
Email:​ ​info@tcgis.org

Address

1031 Como Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55103

Directions
Authorizer: 
University of St. Thomas
2115 Summit Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105

tmoffatt@stthomas.edu
Phone: 651-962-4372