Private K-8 School in Austin, Texas

Strickland Christian School, Austin:
Located in Garrison Park in South Austin in Travis County, Texas, Strickland Christian School serves grade K4 to 8th students from Sunset Valley, Garrision Park, Oak Hill, Shady Hollow, West Congress and surrounding South Austin communities. In the early 1960’s, Corine Strickland began teaching first grade in Texas with her own phonics and memory program. Since that time, Strickland School has been dedicated to training children in godly character while providing them with the academic skills necessary to make them successful students and leaders in their communities. We believe each child is a gift from God, and our curriculum is intended to develop both mind and spirit.

* Kindergarten Program (4-5 year olds):
Our 4-year-old kindergarten (K-4) program focuses mainly on phonics for reading. Therefore, these students learn to read by the end of the school year! Number recognition through 20 and counting to 100 by ones and tens are also taught. Color pages and worksheets emphasize the alphabet, shapes, colors, days of the week and months of the year. Students attend music class twice a week.

* Kindergarten Program (5-6 year olds):
Our 5-year-old kindergarten (K-5) curriculum includes advanced phonics, cursive penmanship, capitalization, punctuation, and early spelling rules. The children are writing sentences from dictation and reading simple words and sentences by the end of the school year. They study the
100 addition facts and are given self-paced math sheets daily. Students will master the writing and recognition of all the numbers to 100. Students will have coloring pages and a few craft projects and will attend music class twice a week.

* First Grade Program:
In first grade the children continue with phonics and are able to read from the King James Bible by the end of the year. The King James Bible has long been the standard of excellence for the English language. Training in punctuation, capitalization, and spelling rules are continued along with the study of sentence diagramming, parts of speech, and vocabulary.

They have spelling words, write sentences by dictation, and write themes daily. Students are able to master twodigit addition and subtraction with borrowing and carrying. They begin learning their multiplication facts and are able to engage in mental math computations in addition and subtraction by the end of the year. They have special classes weekly for Spanish, music, and physical education. They also have an exposure to America’s heritage, heroes, geography, and nature studies.

* Second Grade Program:
Phonics, reading comprehension, vocabulary, punctuation, and capitalization and spelling rules are continued as well as parts of speech and sentence diagramming. They write themes daily from a Bible story and continue to write sentences from dictation. The third grade Saxon math book is used as they continue with two and three digit carrying and borrowing in addition and subtraction. Two and three digit multiplication is usually mastered, and division facts and long division are introduced. They are able to engage in mental math computation in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division by the end of the year. They have separate classes weekly for Spanish, music, and physical education. They also have more exposure to America’s heritage, heroes, geography, and nature studies.

* Third Through to Eighth Grade Programs:
Math – We use the Saxon math series and are 1 or 2 grade levels advanced (third grade doingf ourth or fifth grade studies, etc.) We allow for individual advancement when appropriate and approved by the teacher. Most seventh graders complete high school Algebra I, and many eighth graders complete high school geometry.

English Grammar – We use the A Beka language series and are one grade level advanced. There is a concentration on parts of speech, punctuation, capitalization, diagramming and sentence structure.

Literature and Composition – We use the A Beka literature series and various other great works of literature appropriate for children. Composition concentrates on paragraph skills, letter writing, book reports, poetry, vocabulary, spelling, outlining, and note-taking, culminating in an in-depth research paper in the seventh and eighth grades.

History – A Beka history includes U. S. History and Old and New World History. Texas History is also offered.

Science – A Beka science curriculum includes the scientific method, creationism vs. evolution, hands on experiments, and field trips.

Computer – Students study the history of computers, parts of a computer, typing skills, word processing, desktop publishing, creating a database, creating spreadsheets, and computer graphics. Sixth through eighth graders use programming skills to build and program their own
robots.

Spanish – Third grade studies emphasize vocabulary and conversation. Fourth through eighth grade continue with vocabulary, conversation and grammar as they study the Viva El Espanol! curriculum. Some graduating students are able to test out of ninth grade high school Spanish.

Music – Classes are held twice a week for third through fifth grade. Music classes concentrate on choral singing with worship songs, hymns, patriotic songs, folk songs, the rudiments of rhythm, sound, tempo, listening skills, and rhythm instruments. Students prepare for a performance in the spring. Special Choir is offered to 3rd – 8th graders as an extracurricular activity for an additional cost.

P. E. – Classes emphasize sports and games appropriate for each age level. Children play kickball, volleyball, soccer, basketball, softball, and flag football. Physical conditioning exercises are utilized daily.

* Chapel Program:
About once a month, 1st - 8th grade students will attend a chapel service composed of the students from one or more grades. The purpose will be to sing and worship in a larger group and hear an inspirational message from a teacher, principal, or approved speaker. Scheduled chapel programs will be put on the monthly calendar, and parents are cordially invited to attend.

* Summer School Program:
This five week course will be available for students entering first through fourth grade. This will be held at the school for five weeks, for two to three hours a day.