Calendar
Lunch MenuPrimary
Grades K - 2
Religion
Religion lessons in the primary grades concentrate upon the child’s relationship with our loving God and introduce God’s call to us to share that love with others. Basic concepts are developed through storytelling, dramatization, song, and hands-on-activities which extend the texts. Students learn basic prayers beginning in kindergarten. The Mass, a simple prayer of sorrow, and the Apostles’ Creed are taught in second grade as preparation for the third grade sacramental program. Students attend Mass on a regular basis. Cross-grade prayer partners share celebrations and work on community service projects together.
Reading and Language Arts
Children receive direct, whole-class instruction in phonics and vocabulary using a variety of techniques, including phonemic awareness exercises, word analysis, sight-word recognition, word walls, and choral reading. Comprehension skills are developed by means of whole-class reading and discussion of a literature-based text. Small cooperative group work and graphic organizers are used to build understanding. Individual needs are addressed in flexible groups. Independent reading is encouraged through the Accelerated Reader program and classroom libraries.
In kindergarten, children develop composition skills by listening and responding to literature in journals. Some of these journal responses are made into class books and sent home for parental review and input. In grades one and two, weekly spelling and grammar lessons are integrated with each story. Writing skills are expanded each year. Students are introduced to writing rubrics in the first grade and use the writing process to develop skill in descriptive writing and free verse. In second grade, students’ writing experiences are expanded to include friendly letters and couplets. Cursive writing begins in second grade. Students attend one 15-minute library period a week. While in the library, students are introduced to different genres, to the parts and care of books, and to reference aides.
Each student has a writing portfolio which contains a variety of writing samples completed in each grade. This writing portfolio follows the students from grade level to grade level.
Math
Children participate in a variety of exercises each day with an emphasis on the use of manipulatives to build understanding of mathematical concepts. Through demonstration, hands-on experience, discussion, and exploration, students practice new skills as well as maintain those previously taught. Students learn word problem strategies including drawing a picture, identifying a pattern, and building a graph. In first and second grade, students have opportunities to use a rubric to evaluate their problem-solving skills. Pre-number concepts, geometry, measurement, money, time, and simple addition and subtraction facts are introduced and practiced in kindergarten. Parent participation is encouraged in homework assignments at this grade level. Addition and subtraction facts through 18, graphs, counting groups of coins up to quarters, time to the quarter-hour, double-digit addition and subtraction without regrouping, estimation, geometry, and pattern recognition are taught in first grade. In second grade, the basic addition and subtraction facts are re-taught, with an emphasis on rapid recall. Addition and subtraction of larger numbers with regrouping, multiplication, fractions, and time to the minute are added to the curriculum.
Problem solving along with the written solution to mathematical problems is stressed on a regular basis. Dated samples of these written solutions are collected in a math portfolio and are passed from grade level to grade level.
Science
Students learn about plants, animals, the earth and sky, the human body, matter, magnets, and health and safety through publisher “Big Books,” trade books, hands-on activities, demonstrations, and audio-visual materials. Activities are integrated with the major subject areas of religion, reading, and math whenever possible. Classroom learning centers give students the opportunity to observe and explore scientific materials. Several class fieldtrips are science-related.
Social Studies
In the primary grades, students develop an understanding of our ever-widening communities, from the family structure in kindergarten, through neighborhoods in first grade, to urban and rural communities in second grade. Map and globe skills, citizenship, an appreciation of the past versus the present, and current events are developed throughout the grades. Hands-on activities, literature, audio-visuals, and a computer-based program are used to implement the curriculum. Whenever possible, social studies objectives and skills are integrated with other subject areas.
.jpg)