We emphasize literacy development, mathematics, and our core curriculum units which integrate social studies, science and the arts with reading, writing, and communications.
Core Curriculum
Language arts
Kester Avenue Elementary School uses the Open Court reading program, a comprehensive reading and writing program that teaches decoding, comprehension, and writing in an easy-to-understand format. Adopted by all California schools in 2002, this highly-effective program uses a three part system:
- 1) Preparing to read—focuses on phonemic awareness, sounds and letters, phonics, fluency, and word knowledge.
- 2) Reading and responding—emphasizes reading for understanding with literature, comprehension, and practical reading applications.
- 3) Language arts—focuses on communication skills such as spelling, vocabulary and writing as well as grammar, speaking, and penmanship.
Language arts frameworks for California public schools
Math
Kester uses the enVisionMATH series, an interactive and visual learning program that provides differentiated instruction to address the specific needs of students at all levels. Students access the California State math standards in learning modules designed to engage, assess, and reinforce skills, using a variety of methods. By using meaningful connections to understand basic concepts, students learn math concepts more quickly, with a higher retention rate.
Parents can also use the internet to bring what children are learning in school into the home. Parents and students can access math homework help, games, and online resources at www.pearsonsuccessnet.com (ask your child’s teacher for login information).
Mathematics frameworks for California public schools
Science
Research shows that hands-on investigation through laboratory experimentation is the best way to introduce students to scientific inquiry—the process of asking questions and testing hypotheses as a way to understand the natural world. Kids are concrete thinkers, and they love to tinker with things, manipulate things, and watch things that move and things that change. Kester students have exceptional opportunity to actively participate with the sciences through our science lab and our yearly science fair.
Our students are extremely fortunate to have a dedicated space for conducting science investigations—in their science lab. Teachers are able to integrate a science curriculum into the day by bringing their classes to the lab, where our science aide helps set up experiments. This hands-on experience is priceless.
During the science fair, each student is given a list of grade-appropriate experiments to choose from, or they may create and conduct their own. The fair is a forum for students to design investigations, engage in scientific reasoning, record data, analyze results, and write about their findings. Because every child chooses something that is of interest to him the process is personalized.
Science frameworks for California public schools
Social studies
Through the study of geography, history and current events, Kester students learn to be productive and informed citizens. The themes and courses of study for each grade level are fully outlined in the state frameworks and standards and are crafted by teachers to maximize interest and spark thought and discussion among students.
In kindergarten through grade three, students are introduced to the basic concepts of each discipline: history, geography, civics, and economics. Beginning at grade four, the disciplines are woven together within the standards at each grade. In grade five, students are expected to use critical thinking skills to approach social studies study.
Social studies frameworks for California public schools
Gifted/Talented
The Los Angeles Unified School District is required to provide differentiated instruction for gifted and talented students in local resident schools. A differentiated program builds on the core curriculum and supplements it. It may be different in pacing, level of complexity, depth, above-grade-level resources, and will adjust for student areas of strength. Please contact the Magnet Center for further information on our gifted programs: 818-787-3026.
GATE
The GATE program encourages extremely high levels of abstract thinking, motivation, interest, achievement, peer interaction, and an accelerated pace of learning. For more on the program please see the LAUSD website.
Program features:
- • Accelerated or advanced content
- • More complex understandings of generalizations, principles, theories, and the structure of the content area
- • Abstract concepts and thought processes or skills
- • Level and type of resources used to obtain information, acquire skills, and develop products
- • Appropriation of longer/shorter time span for learning
- • Generating new information and/or products
- • Transfer of learning to new/different disciplines, situations
- • Development of personal growth and sophistication in attitudes, appreciations, feelings, intuition
- • Independence of thought and study
Magnet Program
In order to be verified for Kester's gifted/high ability magnet program a student must demonstrate the ability to work two years above grade level in academic subjects. The magnet program offers an enriched interdisciplinary academic environment that is exciting, challenging, and which encourages students to use creative and critical-thinking skills. For more on eligibility and the application process, please see the e-choices website.