About Us

English as a Second Language

English as a Second Language (ESL) is a language acquisition program designed to teach English Language Learners (ELL) social and academic skills as well as the cultural aspects of the English language necessary to succeed in an academic environment. It involves teaching listening, speaking, reading, writing, study skills, content vocabulary, and cultural orientation at appropriate developmental and proficiency levels with little or no use of the native language. ESL instruction is in English and is provided in a variety of settings and program configurations. The amount of instruction given will vary according to the student’s needs.

FLES SPANISH

¡Jackson habla español! Jackson Elementary is a pilot school for the DODEA FLES (Foreign Language in the Elementary School) initiative. The goal of the DoDEA Foreign Language Initiative is to build capacity in foreign languages by starting learning at the earliest age possible. Currently all Jackson students in kinder through third grade receive ninety minutes of Spanish instruction per week as part of the core curriculum. Our DoDEA FLES standards are aligned to the National Standards in Foreign Language Education published by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. We offer classes with a focus on communication in the target language through dynamic, student-centered activities.

READ 180 Class
Grades: 3rd, 4th, 5th Grades

READ 180 is a comprehensive reading intervention program designed for students who are reading below grade-level. The program utilizes sophisticated software, motivating literature, and scientifically-based research in reading instruction to help students become confident, successful readers.

Key Club

The Key Club here at Jackson Elementary School is a program that was started in the Spring of 2008 in an effort to encourage students to be their “personal best.”  The Key Club is open to any student.  Students are typically recommended for the Key Club by their teachers.   The students who are recommended for the program are those who may need a little extra encouragement to progress in a variety of areas, such as, academics, attendance, behavior, etc. The students may participate for one semester at a time.

 The students are partnered with an adult “buddy” (a member of the J.E.S. faculty or staff).  The adult “buddies” focus on encouraging their Key Club member (buddy) by taking time to talk with them and giving positive reinforcement.  Once a week, the students in Key Club are given a “key” by their classroom teacher.  Then, the student takes the key to their adult buddy who allows them to “unlock” a treasure box and select a small prize.  The adult buddy also verbally reinforces the reason the student has received a key.

The students and the adults who are in the Key Club enjoy the positive encouragement and personal interaction that is stimulated by their involvement in the program.  We look forward to servicing many more students through this endeavor in the future. 

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Guidance

Jackson Elementary School provides a comprehensive guidance counseling program to all students. The school guidance program helps build a foundation for life-long learning by assisting student in developing self-respect, awareness of others, and positive learning attitudes.   The Guidance and Counseling Program provide group guidance, individual counseling, small group counseling, and consultation with teachers, students and parents. Teachers, individual students, or parents can make referrals for school counseling services. School counselors provide direct and indirect services and activities to students, families, and school staff for developing strategies that deal with educational, personal and social challenges that may interfere with the academic process.

The foundation for DoDEA’s Guidance and Counseling Program is a Competency-Based Counseling Program (CBCP). This comprehensive program addresses three areas of student: personal/social; academic; and career planning. The CBCP promotes learning by helping the attitudes and outlooks necessary to be successful. Counselors work with students to help them develop realistic and life-fulfilling plans based on a clear self-understanding and an awareness of their needs, abilities, interests, and skills.

Gifted Education

Students who are eligible to receive gifted services (Gifted Education) are serviced in at least two ways.  The service options for elementary students are:

At Jackson, the resource session outside the classroom is called IDEA (Interdisciplinary Developed Educational Activities) and taught by the Gifted Resource Teacher.  Students in IDEA class attend twice weekly for up to two hours per week.  The interdisciplinary activities are specifically designed to enhance their critical thinking skills.  This year’s focus or theme is “In the News”, where students are tasked with creating newsworthy stories in both print and video, via the school’s closed-circuit T.V.