Primary School K-5

Lead teachers and teacher assistants all participate in rigorous training throughout the year on best practices and trends in both the IB and general education. Our teachers call 15 different countries across the world home, and 7 members of our academic staff are global International Baccalaureate consultants, site visitors and workshop leaders.

Open to all students at any time of the day, the i.lab allows students to put into practice the connection of their imagination with their math and science skills. Weekly Design classes teach kids how to use everything from glass etching tools to sewing machines, and introduces them to project planning tools which help them think through each step of their project. The i.lab is a place where students are encouraged to try, fail, fix and try again.

Smaller class sizes and additional teaching assistants through 2nd grade allow teachers to teach to individual students, and not just to the whole class. From classroom layout to individual time with students, as well as team work, teachers have the opportunity to differentiate their teaching style to accommodate all classroom learning styles.

Primary students are immersed in Spanish 70-80% of their time in the classroom, and English for the remainder. Students learn how to read and write in both Spanish and English, and also learn how to write in cursive, a skill that has nearly disappeared in schools today. With the introduction of Mandarin instruction in 3rd grade, Magellan students build communication skills in the top three spoken languages in the world: Spanish, English and Mandarin.

Our students focus not only on learning fundamental math and science from a functional standpoint, but also explore real world applications. Through the use of a variety of resources including Singapore Math, our students explore math from three directions: concrete, pictorial, and abstract. Projects in science providing students the opportunity to build additional skills such as communication, collaboration and teamwork through projects like designing simple machines in Kinder, full product life-cycle development in 2nd grade, and a final year long research project in 5th grade.

Building a deep appreciation for non-verbal communication and the importance that the arts play in cultural and human expression, students take weekly music classes where they play everything from the piano to the cello. They work all sides of the brain as they sing in English and Spanish, learn cultural dances and build rhythm. Several times a year students are able to share what they’ve learned with the greater Magellan community.

Time outdoors is just as important to the time spent inside the classroom. Our students enjoy time outside with the freedom to play, run and imagine at least twice two to three times a day. They’re also guided through coordinated outdoor classes several times a week where they practice teamwork, reinforce social connections, cooperate with others, develop their confidence, build motor skills and burn off a little extra energy.

5th grade students draw upon the cumulative skills acquired during their primary years to conduct an extended, in-depth, collaborative project known as the PYP Exhibition. Student teams are guided by a mentor who supports deep analysis, problem solving and action as they go in-depth into real life issues or problems. At the final Exhibition, student teams present their work to the Austin community through written and verbal presentations (in both English and Spanish).