There are two levels of classes at this band: a literacy course using native textbooks, typically taught on a Saturday, and an EFL support class for Japan born children and/or returnees that are using English as a foreign language (EFL). All children in this band may take part in the Saturday social program once a month after Saturday school.

Our international grade school classes focus on developing English literacy skills; our aim is to have your child enjoy reading and writing in English at or above a US grade level as much as possible. The core of this course is a Reading textbook developed for American schools, which also incorporates spelling, writing, handwriting and vocabulary components.

From grade also offer a once enrichment classes with cross-curricular topic study.

As your child advances through the grades we also offer translation courses and juku classes in Japanese.

Our early grade classes continue with the phonics based approach to literacy that children have been introduced to in Kindergarten. By the end of first grade, most children will be reading independently (although some will achieve this much earlier and some possibly later) from our wide library. By the end of second grade children are expected to be reading chapter books and by third grade they will be enjoying a wide variety of novels.

Our program simultaneously teaches writing, with grade one students focusing on journal writing at the short paragraph level, grade 2 classes introducing a wider variety of genres including emails and book reports, and grade 3 extended multi-paragraph essays on a variety of topics. Handwriting and spelling programs compliment our courses and children learn and use the computer and the Internet to both supplement and enhance their studies.

Our English program is a comprehensive program with proven results. Children’s reading is assessed by two popular American standardized testing systems, DIBELS and DRA. All children enrolled with us our currently within the reading range appropriate to their class grade.

Writing is assessed by 6 traits. Spelling is assessed by the Elementary Spelling Battery.

EFL support class: Fluent speakers

For non-native fluent speakers we also offer EFL support classes. In these classes, an understanding and practice of English grammar, both spoken and written, is emphasized. Listening material is incorporated and many oral fluency building activities are used. Extra practice and instruction is also given where appropriate to support the native literacy program. we use a high level elementary EFL textbook series developed for children studying in countries in the Middle East and India, who may well have experienced English before entering formal study. It’s a popular program with the children as it really teaches and stretches all 4 skills.

We do not assess children in this course except in informal textbook quizzes; however many members of these classes have chosen to take EIKEN tests outside the school. All children in the second/third grade class who entered the test, have passed Eiken pre-2. Those is the Kinder/first grade class have passed Eiken grade 4. All these children are Japanese children who were born and have been wholly educated in Japan.

Saturday Social program

Children enrolled in the international program are encouraged to join our once monthly Fun Days. On Fun Day we take trips to various places such as parks, museums, the aquarium, planetarium or the zoo. We also stay at school to do art projects sometimes too!

Saturday school is open for children, aged 5-12, enrolled in the international program. Choose two or three hours incorporating a literacy class (two hours) and a topic based enrichment class (one hour). Typical topics are the solar system, the rain forest, country studies, animal studies and animal studies and children produce a file folder of information that incorporates crafts, writing and worksheets. The children are usually very proud of their work! More information here.