Pasadena Plus Curriculum

Pasadena Plus is an 8-Step Plan designed to create a well-coordinated and successfully implemented academic plan that is uniform across campuses within the Pasadena Independent School District.  Through the Instructional Focus component of the plan, comprehensive district-wide curriculum guides are created in order to ensure strong horizontal and vertical alignment.  These curriculum guides serve as the basis of weekly lesson-planning meetings in each grade level at Laura Welch Bush.

Balanced Literacy

Language arts instruction in each classroom at Laura Welch Bush Elementary will be taught through the balanced literacy approach.  A balanced literacy program is one in which students participate in a variety of whole-group, small-group, and individual activities related to a wide range of reading and writing experiences essential to the promotion of early literacy.  The cornerstone of balanced literacy is guided reading, a focused reading group that is organized, structured, planned, and supported by the teacher.  Through guided reading, the teacher works with a small group of children who use similar reading processes and are able to read similar levels of text.  He or she supports each reader's development of effective strategies for processing text at increasingly challenging levels of difficulty.  The ultimate goal is for students to learn to use independent reading strategies successfully.

Two-Way Dual Language

In addition to the ESL and transitional bilingual programs traditionally offered on other campuses, Laura Welch Bush Elementary will also host a Two-Way Dual Language program, in which Spanish-speakers AND English-speakers will have the opportunity to learn 2 languages. Unlike other language programs whose aim is to have all students become proficient in English, the goal of Two Way Dual Language is to produce students who are bilingual and bi-literate in both Spanish and English. Laura Welch Bush is one of only two schools within Pasadena ISD offering this program.  Enrollment is limited, and in order to participate, parents must apply and students must be accepted into the program.)  Click here to see Frequently Asked Questions about the TWDL program.

Promethean Technology

Every classroom will be equipped with an interactive 78" electromagnetic whiteboard, supplied with ACTIVstudio and ACTIVprimary lesson preparation software. Teachers will also have access to an ACTIVote student response system that allows each student to give instant electronic feedback during instruction.