Teaching, Learning and Growing: Heather Brubach
  • About Heather and Contact Info
    • Recommendations and Feedback
    • Video Clips of Teaching
  • Teaching and Graduate Research
    • Portfolio and Inquiry Research >
      • Introduction and Focus of Inquiry
      • Analytic Essay
      • References
      • Appendices of Artifacts
    • Teaching Experience >
      • E.M. Stanton Elementary
      • Penn Alexander Elementary
      • Descriptive Review - Child Study >
        • Child Study
        • Child Study Student Artifacts
      • Class Garden
    • Analysis of Teaching and Lesson Planning >
      • Inquiry Question and Beliefs >
        • Final Analysis
      • Mathematics Lesson >
        • Analysis
        • Observations and Reflections
      • Literacy Lesson >
        • Analysis
        • Observations and Reflections
      • Science Lesson >
        • Analysis
        • Observations and Reflections
      • Social Studies Lessons >
        • Lesson Plans and Read Alouds
        • Statement of Prospect - Part I and II
        • Resources
      • References
    • Curriculum Development >
      • Environmentalism Curriculum Unit >
        • Curriculum Unit Overview >
          • Ideas Web and UBD Planning
          • Convergence Chart
          • Context and Rationale
          • Curriculum Timeline
          • Curriculum Tables
          • Three Lesson Plans
          • Curricular Resources
          • References and Appendices
        • Curriculum Reflection >
          • Student Reflection Surveys
          • 5th Grade Skits
      • 1st and 2nd Grade Integrated Unit on Fibers
  • Museum Education Experience
    • Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum
    • National Liberty Museum
    • Museum of Natural History
    • The Phillips Collection (Art Museum)

3 Months in an Urban 1st Grade Classroom

Background on E.M. Stanton Elementary:

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E.M. Stanton Elementary is a small, public K-8 Elementary School in South Philadelphia. It has a rich history with many supportive families, community members and community partners. In fact E.M. Stanton recently celebrated a successful campaign to keep the school district from closing it due to low enrollment. It's many years of academic success, rich cultural arts programming and positive collaborations with community partners allowed it to stay open while many other schools in the district were closed. See the following post from a long time Stanton supporter to learn more about the impressive community effort that kept the school open: http://thenotebook.org/blog/124565/stanton-supporter-reflections-community-organizing

I was placed in a first grade classroom with 19 students. The classroom I am in has a high focus on increasing early literacy skills. Everyday students participate in sustained independent reading and almost every activity has an associated writing component. Students also have 90 minutes of math instruction daily. The Stanton first graders are fortunate to get instruction in each of the specials (art, library, computers, and gym) one day a week. They have a limited amount of science instruction (about 2 lessons a week) which is not materials based but more of an integrated approach. A few of our students also benefit from participating in a mentor program where they are pulled out from class for one on one reading instruction with community volunteers.

Where is E.M. Stanton Elementary?

Community Assets

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The E.M. Stanton community has many amazing assets within and surrounding the school's catchment area (highlighted in blue above). These assets include:


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Demographics:

The following is demographic information for E.M. Stanton provided by the school district website (https://webapps.philasd.org/school_profile/view/2450):
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