Bixby School 4th and 5th Grade Literacy and Social Studies Teacher Boulder, CO · Full time Company website

Apply for 4th and 5th Grade Literacy and Social Studies Teacher

Founded in 1970, our school is organized around the belief that children are unique individuals, each with their own abilities, interests, and needs. Our school design provides students with opportunities for healthy risk-taking and responsibility for choices, feeds children’s natural curiosity and intrinsic joy of learning, and cultivates critical thinking skills and mastery of concepts. Our shared values are respect, responsibility and empathy.

Bixby School nurtures children’s love of learning as they discover their individual gifts and prepare to make meaningful contributions to their world.

Job Title: Lead Teacher for 4th and 5th Grade Literacy and Social Studies; 5th Grade Advisor

Program:  Elementary

Reports to: Academic Director

Employment Status: Full-time; Exempt

Report to Work Dates: All days that program is in session during the academic year. The hours for this position are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, with a weekly faculty meeting that ends at 4:30 pm. 

Background:

Founded in 1970, Bixby School is a small independent school serving approximately 110 students from preschool through 5th grade. Some of the defining characteristics of a Bixby education include small classes of students who demonstrate a wide range of individual needs and strengths, and a strong focus on the social-emotional growth, independence, and creativity of students.  Our students’ days are richly balanced with academics, play, movement, music, art, and sports.  Bixby is a close, supportive community of positive, dedicated staff and families who have returned over generations.  Bixby students are curious, kind and fun!

Position Summary: 

A Core Belief of Bixby School is that “committed, well-qualified teachers are fundamental to the success of our school.” As a Bixby School teacher, you will nurture students’ cognitive, academic, social and emotional growth and development in a manner that reflects Bixby’s mission to: “nurture children’s love of learning as they discover their individual gifts and prepare to make meaningful contributions to their world.”

The educational journey for a Bixby student is grounded in the understanding that students thrive when they have the autonomy to direct their own learning.  Opportunities for meaningful choice help to foster a love of learning and curiosity about the content. 

Bixby School uses a content specialist model in which teachers teach only one subject to students in multiple grades, similar to most middle schools.  Literacy and Social Studies are integrated into one cross-content subject class.  Teachers have significant professional autonomy to design instruction that prepares students to successfully transition into middle school.  

Defining features of a Bixby literacy and social studies classroom include:

• Co-teaching model with one lead teacher responsible for designing and delivering instruction, with support from an experienced support teacher
• Cross-curricular instruction in Literacy and Social Studies, as opposed to separate instruction in each of these content areas
• Extended class periods for the Literacy/Social Studies co-curricular content
• Small class setting, with materials tailored to the students' needs and pacing 
• Weekly choice reading and writing 
• Exploration of new genres of reading and writing that stretch their existing knowledge and skills. 
• A combination of direct instruction and individualized programming to meet their needs. 
• Students develop personalized learning goals that they can measure, adjust, and reflect upon as they grow 
• Phonics and word study
• Reading
• Writing
• Listening and Speaking
• Keyboarding
• Digital and visual literacy

Defining features of Bixby’s social studies program  explores how humans have survived, thrived, evolved, and devolved over time.   Defining features of a Bixby social studies class include:

• Student directed inquiry
• Awareness of the impacts and expressions of the human experience across multiple domains
• Hands on exploration and projects
• Perspective taking
• Formulating ideas and strategies for action to contribute to our community

Essential Duties and Responsibilities (4th/5th Grade Literacy and Social Studies Teacher)

• Daily
• Design and deliver curriculum, including preparation of all instructional materials and resources needed to effectively execute instructional plans
• Prepare and differentiate lessons and student learning experiences
• Differentiate  instruction to implement accommodations and extensions
• Assess and document student growth and performance using authentic, mission aligned evidence (e.g. student work, photos/videos, student  reflections, observations, etc.)
• Support students’ social-emotional and academic development, including the implementation of repair/restorative practices and logical consequences in a strengths-based and growth-oriented manner
• Support the mission and core beliefs of Bixby School
• Model Bixby’s values of Respect, Responsibility and Empathy 
• Employee shall be expected to report to work on all of the days during which the program in which Employee is employed is in operation, as indicated on the school calendar, a copy of which has been delivered to the Employee.  
• Weekly: 
• Participate in faculty meetings, including:
• Weekly elementary faculty meetings
• Weekly grade-level kid talks to exchange social, emotional and academic information, experiences and strategies about students as well as facilitate cross-content and cross-age collaboration
• Weekly Literacy/Social Studies team meetings to ensure vertical alignment of instruction
• Student supervision, including lunch, Yard supervision, etc.
• Communicate with families about the lessons and activities in your classroom (e.g. newsletter - Bixby Buzz, SeeSaw, website, etc.)
• Periodically/As Needed
• Respond to parent inquiries and participate in parent conferences
• Promptly document in a Student Information Report, student concerns, including academic, behavioral, physical, emotional or social; and notify the Student Support Team, Head of School or other appropriate school administrator 
• Maintain current knowledge of topics relevant to your classroom
• Participate in all-staff meetings and professional development/in-service activities
• Annually: 
• Prepare for and participate in school-wide events such as assemblies, events, festivals, performances, work days, faculty in-service days, and retreats, as appropriate 
• Contribute to student assessments, reports and family conferences(Fall and Spring Reports, Student Portfolios, End of Year Reports, etc.)
• Support activities related to fundraising and community building (Annual Auction, Annual Fund, etc.)
• Renew yourself and deepen your understanding of the Bixby School curriculum, behaviors and mindsets, child development, diversity and enrollment retention  through continued education and professional development
• Such other duties as may be assigned from time to time

5th Grade Lead Teacher Duties and Responsibilities

• Facilitate daily group time for 5th grade students
• Prepare for and participate in parent conferences (Fall and Spring conferences) for 5th grade students, and additional meetings as needed to support student’s transition to middle school
• Lead the planning and coordination of 5th grade events, including:
• Graduation
• Cal-Wood
• Field trips
• 4th/5th Grade Electives
• Participate in other activities designed to support 5th grade students as they prepare for transition to middle school (e.g. Middle School Transition Night and Conferences)

Qualification Requirements:

• Demonstrated passion for literacy and inspiring a love of literature  in children
• Bachelor’s degree in education or related field, or equivalent experience
• Training in Orton-Gillingham highly desirable, but not required
• Experience working with student populations with diverse gifts and needs
• Current First Aid, CPR, and Universal Precautions, 
• Enjoys spending time and engaging with young children and other educators 
• Committed to personal and professional growth 
• Sense of humor 
• Self-aware; able to ask for help when needed
• Curious about others and the world around them
• Belief in the value of a diverse community and committed to foster an inclusive environment for a diverse community
• Committed to a differentiated, whole-person approach to education
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Highly collaborative 
• Proficient in use of Google suite, SeeSaw and Zoom, or able to become so quickly and easily

Physical Requirements:

• Able to continuously walk, stand, climb stairs, and sit
• Frequent bending or stooping, and reaching above shoulder level
• Able to lift up to 40 pounds

Compensation 

This position is a full-time, exempt position.   Annual salary between $50,000-$60,000 depending upon qualifications.  Employees of Bixby School receive a competitive set of benefits including employer-paid health insurance,  employer-matching contributions to a tax-deferred retirement plan, tuition remission for children of employees, ongoing professional development, daily chef-prepared lunch, and amazing colleagues. 

Inclusive Community; Non-Discrimination:

In pursuit of our mission to “...prepare [children] to make meaningful contributions to the world”, Bixby School actively works to foster a diverse community, in which all students, families, faculty and staff are full and accepted members of the school community,  

Bixby School provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or status as a veteran.