Art Club
Art Club is an after school art program for any fifth grade student who is interested in experiencing more art than time allows during their regular art class period. The Art Club will begin at the end of September, and will end at the beginning of May. The Art Club meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school. Each student must attend one session each week, unless the teacher has excused his/her absence.
The students will be working on various projects throughout the year. We will help make props for music programs, help with other art projects in the school, and we will work on more difficult art projects that extend beyond the regular art classes. At the end of the year, students who have attended the required amount of meetings and have shown appropriate behavior will go on a trip to the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha.
Business Partners
Our theme is “Building Tomorrow’s Future Together.” One of our district goals is “to continue to enhance partnerships with the community and county.” This program pairs a classroom with a local business. The four objectives of the program are: (1) Teach our business leaders the Six Pillars of Character, our School Motto, and our Purple Hands Pledge, (2) Take a field trip out to the business, (3) Teach a lesson with the business partner that connects academic skills to the world of work, and (4) Provide opportunities for the business partner to visit the school during special events and to participate in service projects.
Character Counts
Broadway Elementary School was named a Character Counts in Iowa "School of Character" in 2008. Broadway Elementary strives to help students build good character through the Six Pillars of Character: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship. Each month, we focus on a character pillar and how we can show good character through our words and actions.Throughout the year, we encourage our students to stay focused on our school motto, "Be responsible, do our best, and help the rest!"
Our town was the childhood home to Donna Reed, who graduated from Denison High School (now Broadway Elementary). Denison’s motto is “It’s a Wonderful Life.” At Broadway Elementary, we celebrate making good choices through our It’s a Wonderful School Character Awards.
Click here to see a letter from former Governor Chet Culver commending Broadway Elementary School for being named a School of Character.
English as a Second Language
Denison ELL Handbook - Download PDF
Grade Level Overviews
Math Olympiad
Students who are advanced in mathematical skills are eligible for Math Olympiad. This is an intensive program for students with mathematical computation and problem solving ability. These math sessions are held after school, one day per week from October through March. Parental permission is required.
Musical Monarchs
Musical Monarchs is offered to any fifth grader interested in singing beyond the regular music class period. Rehearsals begin in October and are held every Monday after school. Attendance at rehearsals is mandatory unless excused by the teacher. Various performances will be given in the community throughout the school year.
Purple Hands Pledge
Broadway Elementary makes the Purple Hands Pledge a part of our character education program.
The Pledge:
"I will not use my hands or my words for hurting myself or others."
See what is happening with the Purple Hands Program in your school.
STAR Problem-Solving Program
At Broadway Elementary School we supplement the Purple Hands Pledge with the STAR problem-solving program. Click here for more information on the STAR problem solving approach.
Reading
Our reading program involves teachers working with both whole class and small groups of students. We use guided reading when working with small groups of students who demonstrate similar reading behaviors and can all read similar levels of text. The text is easy enough for students to read with some fluency and at the same time offers challenges and opportunities to extend their thinking. Students read selections that expand their strategies. To reach the goal of increasing each student's reading comprehension, teachers provide direct instruction, model and give students support as they practice applying a range of comprehension strategies to the texts.
Parent-Child Shared Reading
Shared Reading Time is a period set aside each day for parent and child to read together. Ten or fifteen minutes are all that is needed. It is not the length of time that is important; it is the consistency with which shared reading takes place that counts. Ten minutes every day will be more effective in developing good reading habits and comprehensive skills than one hour of shared reading every month.
PARENT TIPS: Here are some do’s and don’ts that will make shared reading a time to look forward to everyday.
DO:
- encourage your child to select his or her own books, but offer guidance toward appropriate choices.
- show interest and enthusiasm for Shared Reading Time.
- help your child if he or she has trouble with a word. Shared Reading is for the enjoyment, not skills instruction.
- encourage your child to stop and ask questions, make predictions and express opinions while reading.
- praise your child for showing an interest in reading.
- have fun!
DON’T:
- allow outside interruptions
- rush through Shared Reading Time
- let other activities take the place of reading together
- become frustrated with your child’s reading skills.
- use Shared Reading Time as a reward - or punishment. Make it an enjoyable daily activity.
Click here to see a flyer on our comprehensive reading program
Special Education
Special Education services are provided for eligible students in accordance with the student's Individual Education Plan (IEP). Students are identified through a referral and evaluation process and are educated in the general education curriculum and classrooms to the maximum extent possible. Students may receive different services at multiple points along the following continuum based on their IEP:
1) Consulting Teacher Services;
2) Co-Teaching Services;
3) Collaborative Services;
4) Pull-Out Services; and
5) Special Class.
Download District Developed Special Education Plan
The SIOP Model: Initiative To Increase Student Achievement
This year, teachers at Broadway Elementary School are implementing the Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) model of instruction. This model is designed to increase student achievement. Click here to see a flyer on the SIOP Model.
Talented and Gifted
In order to meet the needs of students who require an additional challenge, there is an Extended Learning program available for students on a full year basis. Students are admitted to the program by exhibiting highly advanced thinking skills, content skills, and/or creativity. Iowa Tests of Basic Skills composite scores, teacher nomination, and/or individual assessments are involved in the selection process. The students are continually evaluated throughout the program to ensure that the students are benefiting from the program. Parental permission is required before students may participate.
Title 1
Title I Plan-download
Title I Parent Compact-download
