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Early Childhood (K - 2nd)

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Kindergarten

Mrs. Fuhrmann

The program in Kindergarten sets the foundation for the rest of a child’s school learning years! We seek to provide age-appropriate, challenging experiences that fully develop a student’s God-given potential in an atmosphere that promotes spiritual growth and a positive self-concept.  We do many fun, unique, hands-on, and concrete activities that help to build our schema and knowledge for future learning. The schedule features daily routines with structured whole-group and small-group lessons and activities. Small-group learning and free-choice play provide for the development of students’ social interactions.  Students learn standard-based concepts and do skills-based activities using fun and creative themes.

Curriculum Goals

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  • Religion – The One in Christ curriculum emphasizes Jesus’ love for each student. This focus incorporates God’s love for us as shown in His plan for our salvation.  Each week is focused on a new Bible story which is enhanced through chapel worship, songs, puppets, books, and finger plays.

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  • Reading / Phonics: Our program seeks to develop young readers! Students will build upon letter-sound knowledge and learn to read with fluency and comprehension. Students will be taught how to think critically about a text through learned strategies.

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  • Writing - As writing and reading are reciprocal, students will be given daily writing opportunities. They will learn to write with a purpose through narrative writing, opinion writing, and informative writing!

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  • Mathematics – We seek to build a concrete foundation of numbers and how they work through building skill upon skill. We will learn such skills and concepts as counting & cardinality, patterning, adding & subtracting, graphing, measuring & estimating, etc.

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  • Science – Our program promotes the child’s awareness of the physical, environmental, and life sciences.  Units of study include: Forces and Interactions, Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems (i.e. plants & animals, etc.), and Weather and Climate.

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  • Social Studies – Our program seeks to engage students in the knowledge and respect of our diverse world. We will learn about relations, rules and citizenship, families, cultures, and our place on earth.

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  • Computer – Students will receive an introduction to the names of basic hardware and the care of hardware and software. They will have access to Chromebooks from which they will learn internet safety and how to search and explore the internet. They will be familiarized with the keyboard as well as proper use of the mouse. They will also be introduced to word processing, opening and saving documents, graphing & charting, and creating slideshows.

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  • Music - Students will engage in many singing, moving, and listening activities. They will learn about steady beat, rhythm, tone, sound, etc. and receive an introduction to reading music notes.

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  • Art, P.E., Choir – These areas of learning promote the child’s awareness of cultural and aesthetic value in the fine arts as well as development of fine and gross motor skills.

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1st Grade

Mrs. Netherton

The primary focus of first grade is building a strong language arts and math skills foundation for future learning.  Hands-on activities are utilized whenever possible.  Worksheets and workbooks compliment the curriculum with opportunity to practice and master educational skills.

Curriculum Goals

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  • Religion – Focuses on Jesus’ love for us.Basic Bible Stories are taught in chronological order and applied to the lives of first graders.

 

  • Reading – The Fountas and Pinnell balanced literacy approach is used for independent, small group and whole group literacy activities. Literacy skills such as predicting, comparison and contrast, plot, sequences and comprehension are introduced via discussion based guided instruction. Phonics, word attack and fluency is addressed in both small groups and whole class instruction.

 

  • Accelerated Reader – This computer-based program is used to strengthen comprehension. Students strive to become independent readers and then are guided to books that help their reading level progress.

 

  • English – Nouns, verbs, adjectives, and sentence structure all compliment the skills developed in phonics and spelling.  Creative writing is a daily activity.  Longer writing projects are completed quarterly.

 

  • Arithmetic – Problem solving is a key component of our first grade math. Computational skills of addition, subtraction, money, time, and fractions are also addressed.  Hands-on activities complement this area of study.

 

  • Science – Experiments, videos, textbooks and internet resources help students learn about forces, matter, sound, weather, energy, animals  and the earth.

 

  • Social Studies – First graders explore landforms, map skills, neighborhoods, cultures, history, graphs and charts as they learn about their world.

 

  • Spelling – A different phonics skill is worked on each week in spelling. Mastery of short vowel, long vowel, digraph and blend spelling patterns is expected.

 

  • Computer – Students learn to identify computer hardware, log-in, identify operating systems, open files from various sources, basic troubleshooting, identify home row keys, and edit in word processing. Students will be introduced to spreadsheets, the use of charts and graphs, correct use of email and internet terminology. Tablets are used in the classroom for computer class as well as enrichment activities

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  • Art, Music, P.E., Choir – Each of these areas expose children to physical and cultural experiences that continue to help them grow.  A variety of media, activity, and musical skills are explored.  The choir has several opportunities during the year to perform for groups.

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2nd Grade

Mrs. Netherton

The primary goal of second grade is to develop in our students a higher level of independence as learners.  More emphasis is put on personal responsibility for remembering to complete work and use time in the classroom wisely.  With Christ at the center of all activities, students will fine tune and apply literacy, math, science, social studies, computer, art, PE and music skills in new and exciting ways.

Curriculum Goals

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  • Religion – God and His grace are reinforced through Bible stories about people who overcome obstacles.  Students will progress through the Bible chronologically and apply Biblical concepts to real life situations.  Prayer, memorizing scripture, songs, and Bible readings help build a personal relationship with Christ.

 

  • Reading - Trade books, ebooks, Accelerated Reader and non-fiction articles are explored as students master word attack skills, phonological awareness, vocabulary, comprehension, fluency, literary analysis, and comparison/contrast. Reading, writing, phonics and spelling are all integrated into the language arts class period.

 

  • English – Parts of speech, speaking and listening, complete sentences and paragraph writing are introduced through various literature and writing projects. Personal narratives, poetry, research projects, how to write, and sentence corrections will all be introduced.

 

  • Handwriting – Manuscript is reviewed for the first semester of the school year.  During the second semester, students are introduced to cursive handwriting.

 

  • Mathematics – Second graders become proficient in addition and subtraction facts, carrying and borrowing, problem solving, working with fractions, telling time, and are introduced to multiplication 0-5 facts. 

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  • Social Studies –  Neighborhoods, landforms, map skills, cultures, history, graphs and charts are all introduced and explored, so students are able to appreciate the world God created. 

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  • Science – The earth, animals, plants, energy, weather, energy, forces, and space are explored through experiments, STEAM activities, videos, trade books and internet activities.

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  • Computer – Saving files, printing, creating a slide presentation, searching the internet for images and content safely,  basic keyboarding, formatting of documents, creation of charts and graphs, and entering data in a spreadsheet are all introduced in computer class and integrated into the all subject areas of the second grade classroom.

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  • Art - Famous artists and illustrators are introduced to students. Second graders will analyze artwork and then create individual artwork inspired by the masters.

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  • P.E. - Students will begin to master basic locomotor and non-locomotor skills and concepts.

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  • Music & Choir - Nine standards for music education, from singing to composing, to moving to music is the focus of music.  Choir focuses on good singing habits, developing a repertoire of vocal literature and singing in canon.

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  • Spanish - Colors, numbers, animals family, and other commonly used vocabulary is introduced to students during the fourth quarter.

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