First Grade

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The first grade curriculum is heavily focused on taking emerging readers, and turning them into readers. The phonics skills and sight words they learned in K5 are expanded and developed in first grade so all students become capable readers while learning to enjoy reading in a group, with a partner, and individually. A direct reading approach is taken so each student is provided with teacher guided instruction each day on comprehension strategies. The reading specialist works with students in the room daily on reading and writing skills in support of the classroom teacher.Writing is worked on daily, as the students go from sounding out words and writing fragments, to spelling all words correctly and making complete thoughts. Towards the end of the year, the students begin to combine thoughts in stories that have a beginning, middle and an end.   Students write on a variety of topics and themes throughout the year.Math facts are stressed daily, as students’ progress from their addition facts to their subtraction facts throughout the year.   During the year, the students study problem solving, graphing, time, money, place value, geometric shapes and algebraic relationships.   Hands-on activities and cooperative learning activities are stressed on a daily basis.

In the first grade, the students are immersed in language skills and development. They are reading books on their level, writing and learning how to break apart sounds to become words. As they become more confident in their reading skills, they are using the text to learn new facts and information.   Math facts and number relationships is very important in first grade. Taking this information that we have is then used to solve real-life problems. Yes, math is real!

 Grade 1 Archdiocesan Curriculum Guide for Parents

Second Grade

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In Second Grade, the main focuses are:  cursive, adding and subtracting with double and triple digits, math facts through 20, word problems, reading at grade level through the Daily 5, learning the Step Up to Writing program focusing on topic sentences with supporting detail, preparation for Reconciliation and First Communion and learning the parts of the mass.

Third Grade

Third grade is such an exciting year because your child will develop into a more independent learner. Expect your child to take on more responsibility. For example, they will be responsible for writing down homework assignments, completing class work on time, and packing up their own belongings for dismissal.

In our classroom your child will develop a love for reading and writing. Your child will be introduced to different book genres, as well as different places where they can find information, such as newspapers, magazines, or websites. Third graders will also be required to complete more writing assignments, such as science and social studies reports and personal narratives, which will be written using the writing process and the Step Up to Writing program. In addition to reading and writing, your third grader will participate in whole-group, small-group and individual activities during math class. In math, our focus will be to develop a strong foundation for multiplication and division concepts. Other important units of study will include understanding of unit fractions, rectangular arrays and area, and analyzing two-dimensional shapes.

Fourth Grade

Fifth Grade

In fifth grade, students are making a transition from a self contained class experience to moving from class to class. As a result, more responsibility is expected from them. Classroom discipline is based upon an understanding that choices have consequences, and we, as Christ persons have the assistance of the Holy Spirit to make good choices.

Religion, of course, is an important subject and students focus on the sacraments, Liturgical Year, the Mass, the teachings of Jesus, the Communion of Saints, Catholic Prayers, service, and a hands-on study of the Scriptures.With the implementation of the Common Core, students will be challenged with the following math concepts: understanding of fractions, decimals, volume, graphing, problem solving, and the ability to explore and discover for themselves the meaning of numbers. A successful math student will come to fifth grade fluent in all math facts and ready to ask questions.The language arts curriculum will include the use and analysis of different genres during whole class , small group, and independent reading and writing  experiences. Successful readers will regularly read independently from fiction and informational texts that are selected according to appropriate instructional levels. Successful writers will routinely write for a variety of tasks, purposes, and audiences, learning and using appropriate writing conventions.The science curriculum will focus on the topics of the Earth, weather, space, chemistry, and human body systems, incorporating the scientific method in a hands-on approach.Social studies instruction allows for a transitional experience in that students move to another classroom and a middle school teacher where they will explore topics related to world history.