Joy Afterschool Elementary

ABOUT AE
While responding to these various skill levels and needs, we have a crafted our program to be one that makes use of the short and valuable time we have with students. (Students moving from our Kindergarten program into Afterschool Elementary will go from approximately 850 hours of instruction to 80 - 100 hours of English immersion per year.)

Our program focuses on improving English literacy through reading, writing, and vocabulary building.

Advancement
Our program is divided into four levels based on average reading levels for American Elementary Schools. Placement will be done based on students skill level, temperament, and family goals. We will also move students when necessary to be sure they are in a comfortable level based on their needs. Improving literacy will require a continued effort throughout a students academic career.

Literacy is not a set of testable skills, but is instead a dynamic set of skills that students will learn at an individual pace, improving in different areas at different times. Because of this, we do not require that students move through our program at any pre-determined pace. Often, a student can (and should) stay in the same level for more than one year. The program is not designed as a pass/fail class, instead it is a journey that students will navigate at their pace with the help of the teachers and their families.

About Literacy
Our program encourages an interest in English and builds confidence by making the students feel comfortable in an English immersion environment. These aspects of English language learning are lacking in Japanese school systems, other English programs and Jukus (cram schools). Together all of  our approaches can work together to help students reach their future goals in an increasingly international future. Improved literacy will give students a strong foundation to continue their academic growth, not only in English, but in other subjects as well.

Levels
Earth Class (Level 1) is our basics class for beginners. This class will build up foundational skills needed to learn to read and speak in English. Topics will include: phonemic awareness (rhyme, alliteration, segmentation, and syllables),  phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension. Along with these skills we will also work on learning independence and leadership within the classroom.

Rockets Class (Level 2) is for students who have most of the foundational skills and are emergent readers. Rockets Class will continue to cover topics from Earth Class, but will include more learner independence, a greater emphasis on sight words, vocabulary with comprehension, speaking in full sentences, and writing basic sentences.

The Sky Class (Level 3 and Level 4) is for our most advanced learners. This class if for students who can express themselves using only English and can read above a 2nd grade level. This class will use varied texts to introduce topics each weak and use the texts as a starting point to talk about comprehension as well as explore grammar and vocabulary. Texts and homework will be level based, but group activities and topics will be done together.

NOTES:Joined Classes (All Levels)
We will have joined classes/lessons about once each month. This time together gives students a chance to learn from each other and to focus on an activity instead of on “learning”.  Please read the AE Blog for more information.

Behavior
We understand that as children get older they learn like to experiment with new and different behaviors that they learn in school. While at Joy we expect all of our students to use their best behavior. We do not tolerate bullying, fighting, or bad language in spoken or written form.If we experience any bad behavior in the in class we will take appropriate action in class and report it to parents as well.

ABOUT AE
当初、アフター・エレメンタリーのプログラムはジョイのキンダーガーテンを卒業し日本の小学校に進学されたお子様が対象に英語力を維持できるように作られました。今では帰国子女又は今までジョイのプログラムに参加をしたことがないお子様も一緒に英語を学べるプログラムとなりました。

そのため、英語能力と英語に関する関心は様々であります。又、各ご家庭によってお子様への目標やゴールも様々です。

各お子様の英語能力とレベルに対応しつつ、お子様と過ごせる限られた時間を使って英語を学べるプログラムを作りました。（Joyのキンダーガーテンからアフター・エレメンタリープログラムに移るお子様は英語環境の時間が年間850時間から80 - 100時間となります）。

当校の英語の読解力はリーディング、ライティング、と単語数の構築をメインとして上達して行くプログラムとなっています。

進歩
アフター・エレメンタリーはアメリカの小学校の標準リーディングレベルに沿って四つのレベルに分かれています。そしてお子様のレベル、性格や各ご家庭の目標によってクラス分けがされています。場合によっては最も適したレベルのクラスで学べるようお子様を別のクラスに移すことも起こり得ます。英語での読み書き能力は各生徒の継続的な努力で上達していくものだと考えております。又、英語の読み書き能力は一律のテスト等で判定されるような能力ではなく、各生徒がそれぞれのペースでそれぞれ異なった部分やタイミングで上達していく変動的な能力です。そのため当校のプログラムは所定のペースで進む基準などはなく,大半の生徒は同レベルに最低一年在籍します。当プログラムは合格／不合格等の設定はなく、各生徒がそれぞれのペースで教師やご家族の補助の元成長して行く形式になっています。

英語の読み書きについて
当校のプログラムは英語への興味と自信を築いていただくために生徒たちが快適に学べるような英語環境を提供しております。このような環境は日本の学校教育、また他の英語プログラムや塾などの英語教育の中で欠けているものです。当校の英語へのアプローチ方法は各生徒と共にそれぞれの国際的なゴールに向けて共に取り組んでゆけると考えております。当校で学び、向上されていく読み書き能力は、生徒たちのこれからの学習の基盤になり、英語だけでなく他の科目にも影響をしていくことと思います。