ACADEMICS, ENRICHMENT AND ELECTIVES

Curriculum Programs

Phonics/Word Study: Students explore six areas of word learning, phonemic awareness letters and sounds, reading words, writing words, processing strategies in reading and processing strategies in writing. Mini-lessons focus upon explicit teaching of each concept with additional time dedicated to application activities. Barton “Just the Rules” Spelling Program: Barton “Just the Rules” Spelling Program begins in PreK4, where all students are introduced to the fundamentals of phonemic awareness. In grades Kindergarten- 6th, students are taught rules for spelling, as opposed to a weekly list of memorized words. Spelling practice and assessment focus upon the application and usage of the rules. Handwriting Without Tears: Handwriting Without Tears, created by an occupational therapist, approaches handwriting from a developmental viewpoint. Manipulatives such as Play-doh, magnetic boards, and wood pieces are first used to teach the fundamentals of letter and number formation before a student utilizes a pencil. Establishing fundamental fine motor skills transitions students into paper/pencil tasks with great ease. A progression continues from print to cursive. Guided Reading: Guided Reading is a method of small group reading instruction. The classroom teacher supports each student’s reading development by observing reading behaviors, gathering evidence of mental processes and organizing instructional groups. Leveled books are selected based upon each group’s level of reading development. Additionally, the teacher is also able to provide skill instruction for each member within the group. At each new level, students develop a deeper knowledge of decoding and comprehension through text with increased complexity. Writer’s Workshop (Units of Study): Writing Workshop: Units of Study organizes instruction around three types of writing; narrative, information and opinion writing. Teaching is focused around a daily “writer’s workshop” framework; whole group mini-lesson, individual conferences, small-group instruction and class sharing session. Students are given a large amount of choice in his/her writing. The teacher uses mentor text, modeled techniques and conferring with students to move students through the writing process.

Grade Level: PreK4 Kind. 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th

Barton “Just the Rules”

Handwriting Without Tears

Guided Reading

Writer’s Workshop: Units of Study

Math Facts in a Flash

Go Math

Accelerated Reader Enterprise

Renaissance Math Enterprise

Math Facts in a Flash: Math Facts in a Flash combines practice, intervention, and progress monitoring of fundamental math skills with a variety of easy-to-use tools. Appropriate practice allows students to develop automaticity of basic math facts necessary for computational fluency and math problem solving. Renaissance Home Connect allows parents/ students to view progress toward Math Facts in a Flash goals. Go Math: The Go Math program emphasizes the critical areas and depth of understanding of math concepts through interactive lessons, research based instructional approaches, best practices from around the world, and differentiated instructional resources to ensure success for all students. Students and parents can access various online components for at-home practice; interactive student books, on-demand videos, virtual manipulatives and games. Accelerated Reader Enterprise: The Accelerated Reader (AR) Enterprise program provides personalized reading practice for students in 1st-8th grade. Kindergarten students, who indicate readiness, also have the opportunity to utilize the Accelerated Reader program. Students select books that are within the student’s reading level indicated by the STAR Reading assessment. Students then complete a computer-based reading quiz, which assesses understanding and comprehension of the text. Students receive rewards for reaching quarterly reading goals through the school library’s AR incentive program. Renaissance Home Connect allows parents/ students to view progress toward Accelerated Reader goals. Renaissance Math Enterprise: Renaissance Math (Accelerated Math) is integrated into the math curriculum and is aligned to national math standards. This program provides an individualized math curriculum by printing personalized assignments at each student's level indicated by the STAR Math test. Students complete these individualized worksheets and enter his/her answers onto the computer. The program instantly scores the assignment and produces the next assignment or assessment. This management system provides immediate feedback for the student, and the teacher is provided with performance data pinpointing challenges and appropriate strategies. Renaissance Home Connect allows parents/ students to view progress Renaissance Math objectives.

Enrichment (PreK4 – 4th Grade)

Physical Education PreK4 and K: Students develop gross motor skills through developmentally appropriate activities. 1st - 4th grade: Students participate in a variety of age-appropriate activities that continue the development of gross motor skills and the introduction of foundational skills for sports.

Spanish PreK4 and K: Students explore the world of foreign language through music, movement games and visualization activities. 1st- 4th grade: Group activities, computer games and centers, continue to develop Spanish vocabulary and phrases.

Grade Level: PreK4 Kinder 1st 2nd 3rd 4th

Physical Education

Spanish

Music

Art

Music PreK4 and K: Students develop the concept of steady beat through movement, instruments and games. 1st- 3rd grade: Students learn the elements of music (rhythm, harmony, pitch) through songs and movement activities.

Different genres are explored, as well as early music reading skills. 4th grade: Students learn music reading, practice, and performance through playing the soprano recorder.

Art K- 4th grade: Students learn the basic elements of art, while being exposed to various artists and several periods in art

history. Exposure to the various media and techniques provide a solid base for future art experiences.

Electives (5th – 8th Grade) Grade Level: 5th 6th 7th 8th

Physical Education

Spanish

Art

Band

Chorus

STEM

Musical Theatre

Video Production

Algebra I

Physical Education (5th-8th grade):

Students are introduced to life sports and the mastery of foundational skills in addition to health and fitness awareness.

Spanish:

Beginning Spanish (5th and 6th grade): Students will learn common vocabulary and phrases, followed by verbs and sentence construction. Students will begin acquiring fluency of the language in a lively learning environment. A natural approach will be implemented to present and reinforce the language concepts.

Spanish Level I (7th and 8th grade): This course is an introduction to the Spanish language and Historic countries.

Spanish Level II (8th grade): This course is an extension of Spanish Level I. Students will gain a deeper understanding of the language and culture of the Hispanic countries.

Art: Basic Drawing (5th grade): Students will concentrate on developing drawing skills. They will be introduced to a variety of media while sharpening these skills including scratchboard, colored pencil and pen/ ink. The techniques learned during this course will be coupled with units on artists from around the world. Advanced Drawing (6th grade): Students will concentrate on fine tuning drawing skills while adding more in depth exercises to increase design skills. Students will study advanced drawing and shading techniques, portraiture, the human figure and linear perspective. The techniques learned during this course will be coupled with units on artists from around the world.

Painting (7th grade): Students will study painting, basic ceramics, pen and ink, mask making, copper foiling, etc. Liturgical Art (8th grade): Students will study the role of art in religion and ritual from early Christianity to the present. Students will create a variety of art based on the periods we study including sculpture, calligraphy and illumination, iconography, mosaics and stained glass.

Band:

Beginning Band (5th grade): Beginning Band is a performance-based course with heavy emphasis in music fundamentals and music reading. Students may participate on the following instruments: flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, french horn, trombone, baritone horn or euphonium, tuba, and percussion (snare drum and bells).

Intermediate Band (6th grade): Students will continue to refine skills from the beginning band experience, and learn new scales and keys, increase performance range and begin using real band arrangements in addition to their texts. The texts for intermediate band are Essential Elements 2000, Book 1 and Book 2. The band will participate in District Honor Band auditions (optional), Solo and Small Ensemble Festival, and will have a chance to participate in District Large Ensemble Festival.

Advanced Band (7th and 8th grade): The advanced band will continue to hone playing skills such as technique, tone, and intonation, while developing musical interpretation, applying basic music theory, and learning new scales and keys. Students will participate in District Honor Band auditions (optional), the Solo and Small Ensemble Festival, and District Large Ensemble Festival.

Musical Theatre: Musical Theatre (7th and 8th grade): This performance class will continue to expand the student’s knowledge of choral literature, musicianship and sight-reading skills, along with performing a large musical theatre production. Students will also learn staging techniques and vocabulary as they have the opportunity to choreograph and stage scenes from musicals.

Chorus: Chorus (5th and 6th grade): Students will develop proper vocal and breathing techniques, improve music and sight reading skills and practice skills needed to lead a congregation at school mass. This will be a performing group with the emphasis on show-choir type performing.

STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math): STEM (6th): Students will experience a cross-curricular approach to learning where they apply science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to solve problems relating to real world applications and situations. Utilizing a collection of design challenge lessons from NASA and several engineering organizations, students will complete projects from all disciplines of science (Earth, Life, and Physical). Project-based lessons are hands on and utilize technology for research, design, and analysis. (Students must apply for this class.)

Lego Robotics (7th and 8th grade): LEGO Robotics integrates Lego building systems with advanced technology. Students learn to create and command Lego robots to move walk and talk through programmable software. (Students must apply for this class.)

STEM 3 - Integrated Programming with Arduino (8th grade): Students will learn basic programming concepts using Arduino, an open-source electronics platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. Students will apply the skills in real-world mathematical and scientific problem solving activities. Arduino can sense the environment by receiving input from a variety of sensors and can affect its surroundings by controlling lights, motors, and other actuators. (arduino.cc)

Video Production: Video Production (8th grade): Students will learn various aspects of video production including: filming technique, editing video, writing scripts, and speaking for an audience. Students will shoot video, take pictures, edit videos and pictures, conduct interviews and speak in front of others as a way to produce weekly video broadcasts for the school. Throughout the course, students will also be expected to produce mini projects showcasing various aspects of video production. (Students must apply for this class.)

Algebra I:

Algebra I: This class is offered to 8th grade students who meet eligibility requirements. Students successfully completing Algebra I will be awarded a Carnegie Unit for High School Credit.