Academics

Fairview-Clifton German Language School, a CPS, preschool-6 magnet school, attracts families interested in the many benefits foreign language immersion offers. Beyond foreign language education, Fairview is focused on providing students with a well-balanced, holistic education.

Fairview-Clifton German Language Curriculum

German instruction at Fairview is provided within the framework of an intensive Foreign Language in the Elementary School (FLES) program with emphasis on content enrichment. In addition to traditional foreign language instruction, topics in curriculum areas such as social studies, science and math are covered in the German classroom as well.

Objectives

The purpose of the German language program at Fairview is to enrich each child's educational experience through intensive daily exposure (approximately 60 minutes of instruction per day) to the "German language and culture." Ultimately, each child should:

Learn to understand, speak, read and write German
Develop an understanding of German-speaking people and their way of life
Develop an appreciation for the contributions of German-Americans to American life
Develop positive multi-ethnic and multicultural attitudes, demonstrate improved learning skills
Behave in a manner reflecting increased self-discipline

Kindergarten

From day one the students are exposed to 30 minutes of German class every day. The classes are conducted in the target language. The emphasis at this early stage lies entirely on aural/oral comprehension. Interactive games, songs, puppets as well as various objects gathered from home and school engage the children in this learning process. Research proves that educating our students at such an early age in a second language leads to greater success in other subject areas as well.

First Grade

First grade German emphasizes the development of listening and speaking skills. During German class, German is the language of instruction. This is an attempt to take advantage of the young child's proclivity to talk and relative lack of inhibition. Many action verbs, such as come, go, show, fetch, take, give, laugh, and cry, among others, provide the basis for the language program. These verbs are used in conjunction with various familiar objects from home and school as children develop the basic vocabulary necessary for success in succeeding years. Veteran and talented German-speaking puppets put in numerous appearances and enhance the lessons to the delight of the children. Games and songs are also and integral part of the first-grade curriculum.

Second Grade

The grade-two German curriculum builds upon and augments the aural and oral competencies acquired during Kindergarten and grade-one language instruction. As in previous years, instruction is carried out in the target language and in the present tense. (Past tense of verbs is officially introduced later in the year.) New components this year are reading and writing in German. Pupils meet seven times a week (for 40 minutes per period), five times in large groups (concentrating on listening and writing) and twice in small groups (emphasizing reading and speaking).

We begin the year by learning the alphabet in German. Thence we follow a logical progression from letters and words to sentences, and then, on to short texts. New vocabulary is introduced weekly. Pupils receive a short vocabulary list on Monday, participate in a classroom competition on Thursday, and take a simple written test on Friday.

Each week (or two) we introduce a new German children's song (often related to the current instructional theme). The children learn, act out, and mime the song's content. We also celebrate and discuss numerous German (and German-American) customs and holidays.

Throughout the year, various themes are treated and discussed. These categories include: colors, directions, family members, the human body, clothing, animals, fruits and vegetables, foods, professions, and homes and habitats, etc.

A variety of approaches, media, and materials are employed to ensure that pupils have the maximum positive contact with the target language. We also attempt (with units on geography and other areas) to expand and reinforce the general grade-two curriculum. Puppets, pictures, games and regalia further assist our endeavor to expand upon and enhance the linguistic, educational, and cultural experience of each individual pupil at Fairview German Language Language School.

Third Grade

The third grade German curriculum includes development in these areas: listening, speaking, reading writing and culture. All instruction takes place in German. Students receive ample opportunities to practice spoken language as they engage in classroom conversation with the teacher and each other. Writing exercises help reinforce vocabulary and develop skill in combining language. The combination of this year's writing efforts is a student authorized book, a Young Author's project. Fairy Tales, poetry, short narration and dialogues form the basis of a reading program.

I will enhance your child's regular classroom curriculum by teaching 3rd grade content in German. I will incorporate:

Social studies (geography, map reading skills, bodies of water and land forms)
Math (math facts, fractions, story problems, counting money, telling time, place value, metric measurement)
Science (animal classification, the environment, etc.)

In order to devote as much time as possible to learning the German language, I have high standards regarding behavior. Students are to be well rested and give their full attention during class. Students are encouraged to speak German as much as possible, but may not speak out without permission. Talking out in English, playing with toys, keys, jewelry, supplies, etc., or disturbing other children results in a loss of learning time. I appreciate your support of my efforts to create meaningful, productive and pleasant learning experiences for your child.

Fourth Grade

The fourth grade German curriculum covers several areas: listening, speaking, writing, reading and culture. All instruction takes place in German, which allows for many opportunities for all students to practice both speaking and listening skills. Reading and writing are major focuses in the fourth grade. Students will learn more vocabulary and several grammar structures. Students will also read several books in German this year, as well as writing their own German book for Young Author's Night.

Students in fourth grade German will also receive instruction in German covering topics from their regular classroom curriculum, such as Math, Science, Social Studies, and Art. Specific topics include multiplication, the metric system, telling time, elapsed time, animals and their habitats, Ohio History and Expressionism. These topics allow the students to review material, as well as build their German vocabulary.

Fifth & Sixth Grade

Fifth and 6th grade German instruction is done exclusively in German, focusing on the areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Students are taught several new grammar structures. Students read several books and short stories in German and work on reading skills with those stories. Students at both grade levels write several pieces for Young Author's Night. The 6th grade focuses on a geography unit covering the 16 states in Germany, as well as cultural pieces based on Struwwelpeter. The 5th grade focuses on a vocabulary unit on animals and their habitats, as well as some reading pieces and poetry. Both the 5th and 6th grade students also practice their oral fluency with the use of headsets and microphones in the computer lab, listening to native speakers and recording themselves responding to prompts given by the teacher.

Teachers

Fairview teachers are highly trained to foster a culture of excellence and provide opportunities for each child to reach his/her full potential as a world citizen.

Qualifications:

100% of our teachers have a bachelors degree.
More than 75% have a master's degree.

Our teachers are the best because they are dedicated to our families and the students they serve. You can drive by the school as early as 7 a.m. and as late as 10 p.m. and you will still see lights on in classrooms as teachers are creating and collaborating to provide the best instruction for our students.

Fairview teachers have the freedom to use their instructional expertise to deliver instruction in differentiated ways to support the diverse population. There is something to say when many teachers send their own children/grandchildren to Fairview. It is more than a school. It is an experience!