Curriculum

Students develop a global understanding of the history and geography of our world through reading, research, and visual media. Learning about local, national, and world history through a multisensory approach allows for deep comprehension of the ways societies develop. A focus on understanding the many motivations behind historical and political actions allows for open discussion about world cultures and a respect for differences. Research projects, opportunities for debate, and the creation of dynamic and diverse multi-media presentations are highlights. Skills are developed in both written and oral reporting formats. Through school trips and guest lecturers, students gain first-hand knowledge of our past and present, our government and country, and the world at large.

Language Arts instruction at Rawson Saunders engages students in reading, writing, speaking, and listening with a variety of genres and learning opportunities. Through our Language Arts program, our students become skillful inferential thinkers and capable, confident writers and speakers. All Language Arts teachers collaborate with our Academic Language Therapists (ALTs) to ensure that students are appropriately challenged and supported. Lively discussions, projects, and writing assignments in response to a range of genres enhance students’ vocabulary and critical thinking skills while cultivating a personal appreciation for literature.

Reading—Works of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and plays enable students to engage with contemporary and classic literature across a great variety of genres. Both assigned and independent reading are completed with a focus on comprehension and literary analysis.

Vocabulary—Multisensory vocabulary instruction helps students discover meanings of words in an exciting and engaging way. Cross-curricular vocabulary is emphasized.

Writing—Writing is taught as a process. Students learn paragraph development, sequencing, and editing skills and compose expository, persuasive, descriptive, and narrative essays as well as research reports and creative writing projects. Effective writing is as important to success as reading, and clear, well-reasoned, logically structured, written communication is an essential skill. Our students have expansive minds and a lot to say! Through Language Arts, ALT, and the Writers’ Workshop, we encourage students to tap their creativity to become effective and articulate communicators as well as expressive and skillful writers.

Grammar—Grammar, usage, mechanics, and sentence structure are taught explicitly using a variety of hands-on activities to enhance memory and understanding.

Spelling—The Scientific Spelling program is taught in the students’ daily ALT sessions and supported in the Language Arts  classroom. Students learn to apply reliable patterns and rules of the English language in their writing.

Technology—A variety of technology resources are integrated into the classroom to aid and augment student learning. The LA department works closely with the Technology Department to incorporate the latest in support resources to help students attain their academic goals and become more independent in their learning.

Lower School to Middle School

Our Singapore Math curriculum, used by the highest achieving math students in the world, is a mastery-based, hands-on program that incorporates engaging and practical strategies with systematic instruction to enable students to fully comprehend simple and complex math concepts while gaining an in-depth understanding of the language of numbers. Small class sizes allow students to progress as they master mathematical concepts. The child who excels in math has the opportunity to advance quickly while the child needing additional time or instruction will also receive the support they need to succeed. Through our highly specialized instructional program, our students achieve both competence and confidence in math. 

Middle School to Upper School

The Singapore Math curriculum at Rawson Saunders extends through Pre-Algebra (Level 7). Upon completion, students progress to a high school level Algebra I course. The courses that students study beyond Algebra I are determined based on each student's level of mastery. The goal for Rawson Saunders graduates is to meet Texas requirements by completing 3 or more high school credits in math.

STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics

STEM instruction is a challenging, engaging, hands-on experience for each child in every grade. All students from grades 1-12 receive daily instruction in STEM. By thoroughly exploring and examining how our world works through experiential learning, lab-work, engineering projects, NASA challenges, and field trips, our students develop strong observation and deductive reasoning skills and a thorough understanding of scientific concepts. Basic coding is taught beginning in first grade with coding practice and coding opportunities provided for all grades. Scientific principals in physics, biology, chemistry, astronomy, and earth science are studied and explored at every grade level and are applied in areas of project-based learning. Whether in Lower School, Middle School, or Upper School, our comprehensive STEM program teaches students to be knowledgeable, creative, and resourceful problem solvers.

Drama at Rawson Saunders is an exciting platform for safe expression and focused utilization of the imagination. Through their work in the classroom, students increase creativity, originality, sensitivity, fluency, and confidence while developing important communication and cooperation skills. Students learn different styles of acting including pantomime, improvisation, monologue, and scene work and study the history of the theatre. Activities are used to increase the sense of community in the classroom.

Student play productions have been performed at the following professional public venues: State Theatre, Off Center Theatre, Salvage Vanguard Theatre, AISD Performing Arts Center.

Lower School Music at Rawson Saunders is a lively and immersive experience. The curriculum is based on the Kodaly method, which allows students opportunities to sing, move, play instruments, and thoughtfully listen, all leading to music literacy. Singing games and movement create a high level of engagement and fun. Recorders are introduced in the 4th grade for music reading, composing, and improvising. Structured play and camaraderie is formed as students feel the joy of making music together.

Middle School Music at Rawson Saunders is interactive. The curriculum focuses on playing a variety of instruments and listening to a range of music styles. Students are introduced to music from many different time periods and cultures. Ukuleles, hand drums, and xylophones help students create, express, and gain musical faculty. Middle School music electives include Rock Band, Glee Club, What's That Song About, and The History of Rock & Roll.

Music Lessons
After school lessons provide an opportunity to learn a musical instrument. All grades and skill levels are welcome. Students practice music fundamentals, with the goal of playing along with their favorite songs. Instrument choices include guitar, piano, voice, ukulele, drums, and bass guitar.

At Rawson Saunders, we believe participation in the arts is essential to all students’ education. Through the arts, students enrich their analytical skills as they approach problems and tackle projects from an individualized perspective. Students with dyslexia often have significant strengths in the arts. We recognize and support these gifts by offering a dynamic array of artistic opportunities in drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, and digital art. Art at Rawson Saunders creates a space for young artists to develop authentic reflection, creative problem-solving and communication skills. Master teachers support our students in developing the tools to communicate confidently with visual language.

In Lower School, students grow in their knowledge of the fundamentals of art and learn to apply these elements and principles of design to their own art making. By 4th and 5th grade, students apply those fundamentals to cross-curricular projects that express their understanding of themes from core academic classes. 

In Middle School, students continue to develop their problem-solving and critical thinking skills through project-based learning through specialized art electives. They also develop more independent work skills as they learn to make project proposals to pursue ideas and techniques that interest them.

In Upper School, students begin to engage more and more in career-ready artistic practices as the frequency of their classes increases from twice-a-week to everyday.

Woodworking is introduced to 4th and 5th grade students and is an elective for Middle Schoolers. The wood shop is an excellent learning environment in which students exercise their three-dimensional reasoning skills and learn how to handle real tools safely, effectively, and responsibly. They learn fundamental woodworking and shop skills including shop safety, proper tool use, project planning, measuring, creative design, and repair and maintenance techniques. Projects vary each year and may be integrated with other classes, such as art, history, or drama. In addition to planned projects, there is structured creative time for approved student projects.

Academic Language Therapy (ALT) is a systematic, multisensory, phonics-based approach to teaching reading, writing, and spelling. Taught by certified reading therapists, ALT is fully integrated into the Rawson Saunders curriculum as a core course and all students attend ALT on a daily basis. Our certified ALTs work with children on a 2:1 student teacher ratio in specially equipped ALT rooms. The curriculum is customized for each child and instruction is individually paced. Students are regularly assessed to monitor progress and guide instruction.

Basic Language Skills, an Orton-Gillingham based curriculum, serves as the foundation for our program with focused instruction in phonemic awareness, letter recognition, decoding, spelling, fluency, comprehension, handwriting, vocabulary, and oral and written expression. Our intensive, therapeutic program exceeds the Texas Dyslexia Legislation guidelines and has been proven extremely effective with dyslexic students.

The Rawson Saunders physical education program is fun, welcoming, and designed for success. Students perform at their own comfort level at the same time as they are supported and encouraged to take the risks required to improve their athletic skills. A strong emphasis is placed on character development. The year-long outdoor program is designed to exercise minds as well as bodies. PE is not graded on how well students perform, but rather on students’ willingness to participate and their effort.

For middle school students in grades 6 through 8, the following options are available:

• Yoga. Students explore a range of poses—asanas—that will increase balance, flexibility, and strength. Students learn how the fundamentals of yoga can be applied to everyday life to calm, energize, and strengthen both body and mind. In addition, classes will study nutrition, healthy habits, hygiene, and beginning meditation and relaxation techniques.
• Athletics. This elective focuses on a wide range of sport specific skills (Quidditch anyone?) along with strength and conditioning exercises.

Students in grades 5-8 have the opportunity to participate in our after-school sports programs. Our athletic department offers flag football, volleyball, cross country, basketball, track, and soccer, with more opportunities to come! Rawson Saunders is a member of the Austin Private School Association, the interscholastic athletic league in which our teams compete.

Upper School students have the opportunity to join Cross Country and Track to compete against other local private high schools. The Upper School athletics program is in development with more options available soon!