Setting and Context.
This page addresses Beattie Elementary as a community of learners. And answers the questions, What makes Beattie...Beattie? What is special about it? How does it meet the needs of the specific students who attend this school? What is Wonder Lab?
These topics include: 1) Culture and Community Context, 2) Demographic Characteristics, 3) Academic Environment, 4) Instructional & Enrichment Programs, 5) Opportunities for Parents, 6) Wonder Lab |
Art Experiences: Lesson One Link
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Culture and Community Context
Beattie Elementary School is a Public PK, KG-5 school within the Poudre School District R-1 and is located at 3000 Meadowlark Fort Collins, CO 80526-2841. Beattie opened its doors in 1972, and was named after Dan Beattie, long-time community leader, distinguished athlete, and educator. The schools motto is "open classrooms, endless possibilities". Like its namesake Beattie Elementary encourages student involvement in physical education, music, and art classes which offer students to experience and develop their athletic, musical, and creative potential. "We share the desire for students to reach for and achieve high goals, knowing that the journey is just as important as the end result."
In regards to the Academic Environment, Beattie uses teaching teams in each grade level. The school layout is open, which promotes collaboration among students and staff alike. While teaching at Beattie we saw directly how this format creates a more organic learning environment that caters to collaboration and strong communication.
Demographic Characteristics
All information is provided via schooldigger.com.
"We updated the 2018-19 rankings and test scores for this school on Monday, August 19, 2019"
Total Enrollment: 349 students
Student - Teacher Ratio: 15.7
Racial Breakdown:
Statewide Ranking: 191/965 for Colorado elementary schools
Academic Environment
Beattie uses teaching teams in each grade level. "Our school layout is open, which allows a tremendous level of collaboration for both students and staff. Physical education, music, and art classes offer students experiences to develop their athletic, musical, and creative potential. We share the desire for students to reach for and achieve high goals, knowing that the journey is just as important as the end result."
In my experience at Bettie Elementary School, I taught art to first and second grade students every Friday from 1:45 pm - 3:20 pm. Beattie utilizes a two track system, composed of groups A and B. Classes were 45 minutes in length, and each Friday we saw two classes of students (First & Second Grade Group A) and alternated each week with the other classes (First & Second Grade Group B). At the elementary level, students were being taught basic art skills, such as texture, line, contrast, but correct studio habits were of most importance. Kimberley Noel, our supervising instructor, informed that instilling proper studio behavior and safety guidelines at this young age, was essential for the development of the students moving forward in the program. In the weeks I spent in the classroom, we taught lessons that emphasized creative processes, decision making, and personal investment. Students explored ideation, storytelling, and visual communication, as well as a variety of 2-D methods such as drawing, and some 3-D methods like sculpting with clay. Literacy integration became part of the curriculum as well, through having students practice basic writing and communication skills. The students also engaged in problem pose, self assessment, and reflection as they discussed their creative decisions with their peers and staff.
Open Classroom Environment
"The open classroom design format became popular in the United States in the early 1970s, when Beattie Elementary was built. The idea of the open classroom design was that students would be in a “larger” classroom with several teachers working with them. Classrooms were not separated by walls and closed off by doors. As a result, movement occurred across class areas by both students and teachers, with everyone working collaboratively."
"Today, Beattie Elementary staff, parents and students have embraced the open classroom layout as something that is positive and unique to our school. Said another way, the design or layout defines our school and the type of learning that occurs here. It provides for a degree of student movement, team-teaching, and cooperative learning that is not possible in a school with a traditional classroom design. Despite being open and with few boundaries from one classroom to the next, each room has clearly defined learning areas and students are focused on what is occurring in their class. The learning environment is calm and focused, with high expectations communicated each day."
Instructional & Enrichment Programs
Meeting the full range of students’ academic needs, Beattie’s educational programs include gifted and talented, a special needs resource and moderate needs program, as well as literacy intervention, and a full-time counselor.
"Beattie is a Positive Behavior and Intervention Support (PBiS) school, with an emphasis on R.A.M.S. (Respect All, Act Responsibly, Motivated to Learn, and Safety). We ensure a positive, safe, school environment through our PBiS behavior teaching matrix, use of Peacekeepers, which emphasizes restorative practices, and the practice of crisis response procedures. Our school-wide approach includes the saying "RAMS climb higher". Students are recognized for their efforts and positive behavior, and this recognition includes being identified as a Beattie "Rockstar"."
"Community involvement is a key part of our enrichment. Beattie encourages student involvement in a wide array of activities including service learning projects, Kindness Club, Student Council, Odyssey of the Mind, Lego Robotics, Encore (Art, Music, and PE) events, wellness activities, PSD After 3 classes, BASE Camp, and other opportunities."
Opportunities for Parents
"Beattie Action Team (BAT) is our parent group for representation in PSD and for fundraising. The School Advisory Committee (SAC), which involves parents, provides input on a variety of topics and has school improvement as a focus. We also have the Watch DOGS program. Parents have many opportunities to be involved, and your participation is encouraged."
What is WONDER LAB?
As practicum students, we get the opportunity to teach and explore art with students at Beattie Elementary. We believe that it is important for everyone to be explorers of the world. We provide lessons and projects that will let kids explore, discover, create, and work together as a team. Through this website, we get to showcase students' artistic process and artwork through documentation and photos.
Our purpose is to create an additional space for DISCOVERY, CREATIVITY, and LEARNING in art class!
More infromation in regards to Wonder Lab and our documentation of student learning can be found via links through the Art Experieces tab.
Further information in regards to the History, Educational Philosophies, and the Programs offered can be found at: https://bea.psdschools.org/
Beattie Elementary School is a Public PK, KG-5 school within the Poudre School District R-1 and is located at 3000 Meadowlark Fort Collins, CO 80526-2841. Beattie opened its doors in 1972, and was named after Dan Beattie, long-time community leader, distinguished athlete, and educator. The schools motto is "open classrooms, endless possibilities". Like its namesake Beattie Elementary encourages student involvement in physical education, music, and art classes which offer students to experience and develop their athletic, musical, and creative potential. "We share the desire for students to reach for and achieve high goals, knowing that the journey is just as important as the end result."
In regards to the Academic Environment, Beattie uses teaching teams in each grade level. The school layout is open, which promotes collaboration among students and staff alike. While teaching at Beattie we saw directly how this format creates a more organic learning environment that caters to collaboration and strong communication.
Demographic Characteristics
All information is provided via schooldigger.com.
"We updated the 2018-19 rankings and test scores for this school on Monday, August 19, 2019"
- Direct Link: https://www.schooldigger.com/go/CO/schools/0399000520/school.aspx
Total Enrollment: 349 students
Student - Teacher Ratio: 15.7
Racial Breakdown:
- White: 65.6%
- Hispanic: 24.1%
- Two or more races: 5.4%
- Asian: 2%
- African American: 1.7%
- American Indian: 0.9%
- Pacific Islander: 0.3%
Statewide Ranking: 191/965 for Colorado elementary schools
Academic Environment
Beattie uses teaching teams in each grade level. "Our school layout is open, which allows a tremendous level of collaboration for both students and staff. Physical education, music, and art classes offer students experiences to develop their athletic, musical, and creative potential. We share the desire for students to reach for and achieve high goals, knowing that the journey is just as important as the end result."
In my experience at Bettie Elementary School, I taught art to first and second grade students every Friday from 1:45 pm - 3:20 pm. Beattie utilizes a two track system, composed of groups A and B. Classes were 45 minutes in length, and each Friday we saw two classes of students (First & Second Grade Group A) and alternated each week with the other classes (First & Second Grade Group B). At the elementary level, students were being taught basic art skills, such as texture, line, contrast, but correct studio habits were of most importance. Kimberley Noel, our supervising instructor, informed that instilling proper studio behavior and safety guidelines at this young age, was essential for the development of the students moving forward in the program. In the weeks I spent in the classroom, we taught lessons that emphasized creative processes, decision making, and personal investment. Students explored ideation, storytelling, and visual communication, as well as a variety of 2-D methods such as drawing, and some 3-D methods like sculpting with clay. Literacy integration became part of the curriculum as well, through having students practice basic writing and communication skills. The students also engaged in problem pose, self assessment, and reflection as they discussed their creative decisions with their peers and staff.
Open Classroom Environment
"The open classroom design format became popular in the United States in the early 1970s, when Beattie Elementary was built. The idea of the open classroom design was that students would be in a “larger” classroom with several teachers working with them. Classrooms were not separated by walls and closed off by doors. As a result, movement occurred across class areas by both students and teachers, with everyone working collaboratively."
"Today, Beattie Elementary staff, parents and students have embraced the open classroom layout as something that is positive and unique to our school. Said another way, the design or layout defines our school and the type of learning that occurs here. It provides for a degree of student movement, team-teaching, and cooperative learning that is not possible in a school with a traditional classroom design. Despite being open and with few boundaries from one classroom to the next, each room has clearly defined learning areas and students are focused on what is occurring in their class. The learning environment is calm and focused, with high expectations communicated each day."
Instructional & Enrichment Programs
Meeting the full range of students’ academic needs, Beattie’s educational programs include gifted and talented, a special needs resource and moderate needs program, as well as literacy intervention, and a full-time counselor.
"Beattie is a Positive Behavior and Intervention Support (PBiS) school, with an emphasis on R.A.M.S. (Respect All, Act Responsibly, Motivated to Learn, and Safety). We ensure a positive, safe, school environment through our PBiS behavior teaching matrix, use of Peacekeepers, which emphasizes restorative practices, and the practice of crisis response procedures. Our school-wide approach includes the saying "RAMS climb higher". Students are recognized for their efforts and positive behavior, and this recognition includes being identified as a Beattie "Rockstar"."
"Community involvement is a key part of our enrichment. Beattie encourages student involvement in a wide array of activities including service learning projects, Kindness Club, Student Council, Odyssey of the Mind, Lego Robotics, Encore (Art, Music, and PE) events, wellness activities, PSD After 3 classes, BASE Camp, and other opportunities."
Opportunities for Parents
"Beattie Action Team (BAT) is our parent group for representation in PSD and for fundraising. The School Advisory Committee (SAC), which involves parents, provides input on a variety of topics and has school improvement as a focus. We also have the Watch DOGS program. Parents have many opportunities to be involved, and your participation is encouraged."
What is WONDER LAB?
As practicum students, we get the opportunity to teach and explore art with students at Beattie Elementary. We believe that it is important for everyone to be explorers of the world. We provide lessons and projects that will let kids explore, discover, create, and work together as a team. Through this website, we get to showcase students' artistic process and artwork through documentation and photos.
Our purpose is to create an additional space for DISCOVERY, CREATIVITY, and LEARNING in art class!
More infromation in regards to Wonder Lab and our documentation of student learning can be found via links through the Art Experieces tab.
Further information in regards to the History, Educational Philosophies, and the Programs offered can be found at: https://bea.psdschools.org/