4th and 5th Grade Literacy and Social Studies Teacher

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.

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!

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.

• 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

• 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

• 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…