Academic Programs at EDS
"Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one."

Download EDS Family Handbook 2008-2009

Academics	Literacy	Math
Science/Social Studies	Technology	Library

Academics

Academic excellence is an important goal for all students at EDS.  Teachers use the California Content Standards, GATE standards, and the latest information about how students learn, to plan core curriculum.  Curriculum is integrated across curricular areas to provide students with many opportunities to make connections and apply their skills to real world problem solving.  At each grade level, a balanced curriculum allows students to master basic skills and use higher level thinking skills and problem solving. 

Core curriculum is differentiated so that each student is able to reach his or her full potential.  Small, flexible groups, teacher teams, and multiage classrooms provide a learning environment where each student’s academic needs are met.  The learning process is always the focus as students learn to use their strengths, find appropriate resources, and work together to share ideas and solutions.

• California Content Standards

• Gifted and Talented Education Standards (GATE)

Literacy

The Language Arts curriculum at EDS is taught explicitly as well as integrated into all other curriculum areas. 

Reading: Students in the lower grades learn to read in a developmental, leveled reading program which allows them to grow at their own pace while learning to love reading.  Students soon move toward reading to learn and branch out to read, and respond to, a variety of genres.  Teachers use a combination of the district adopted texts, leveled books, novels and non-fiction sources to provide students with a variety of reading materials. 

Writing begins in Kindergarten and is taught developmentally as students gain the physical and academic skills they need in order to write.  Even from Kindergarten, students are encouraged to write in all subject areas including math.  The writing curriculum provides students with structures, conventions, and content development as they begin to write longer paragraphs and then essays.  Each year we celebrate all of our students’ writing accomplishments with a school-wide Author’s Faire. 

Communication is an important skill for students to become productive citizens. At EDS, students at every grade level have daily opportunities to speak and listen to each other.  Cooperative learning strategies help students develop language and group problem- solving skills.  Students have multiple opportunities to present information to their classmates and in front of larger groups.  As they grow, they learn how to listen to each other,  provide appropriate feedback, and ask and respond to higher level questions. 

Math

The math curriculum at EDS begins with concrete hands-on math activities that provide students with lots of practice until their understanding is solidified.  As appropriate, students move from concrete to more abstract activities, learning formulas and algorithms after they understand how numbers work at a concrete level.  Students are encouraged to discover different ways of arriving at a solution and to practice sharing their thinking with others both verbally and in writing. 

Science and Social Science

At EDS, science and social science standards are organized so that they are both accessible and meaningful to students.  At the K-1 level, broad themes, lasting 6-8 weeks allow students to explore big concepts such as citizenship, community responsibility, ecosystems, adaptation, or life cycles in a variety of settings.  At the 2/3 level, teachers specialize in teaching a few grade level science or social studies themes, and students rotate through the cycle over the course of the year.  At the 4-8 level, science and math curriculum becomes more specific, but teachers continue to connect concepts and provide practical activities that make these subjects both meaningful and fun for students. 

Family events such as Gold Rush Day, Colonial Day, and our Annual Science Faire along with grade level Service Learning Projects give students an opportunity to share what they have learned with our community. 

Technology
See also Computer Lab

At EDS, each student receives developmentally appropriate instruction in technology use.  Students use technology as a tool for learning and sharing what they have learned with others.  Students use the computers in their classroom or the computer lab to publish writing, practice literacy or math skills, do research, and create projects such as reports or Power Point presentations.  We are looking forward to having a video studio up and running in the 2007-08 school year!

Library

Our amazing library at EDS is full of children every minute of the day!  Each class visits the library once each week and students are able to check out books each time.  Mrs. Legere, our librarian, knows each student and helps each find books that match their reading and interest level.  Older students use library materials to find information for reports and projects. The library is also open to students during lunch to read or play games

Easterbrook Discovery School, San Jose, CA. Design donated by Kari J. Kindem, Creative Group Design. Copyright 2007 - 2008. All rights reserved. Webmaster.
Last Updated: 09/06/2008.