CURRICULUM

It is the aim of our school to educate and develop the whole child for the glory of God in partnership with parents and the Christian community.

Elementary (Grades K-5)

It is the aim of our school to educate and develop the whole child for the glory of God in partnership with parents and the Christian community.

But what does this look like in the formative years of Elementary Grade Level school?

–We love our kids! Our teachers strive to demonstrate to our students through their words, actions, and attitudes that our students are loved, valued, and of immeasurable worth.

–We love learning! Our teachers endeavor to create a learning environment that devours students’ attention by utilizing a variety of teaching styles, questions that stimulate critical thinking and a deeper understanding, interactive and hands-on learning, personalized instruction that reaches every student, and by modeling how a passionate learner learns and grows.

–We love others! Instead of remaining isolated within the walls of our classrooms, our school is committed exploring tangible ways to serve our community.

Kindergarten

Kindergarten is designed to make learning enjoyable and lay the groundwork for a fruitful education and future.

CURRICULUM:
· Bible: Deep Roots
· Language Arts: Wilson Phonics, Fountas and Pinnell (Reading), 6+1 Trait Writing
· Math: Go Math
· Science: FOSS (Animals Two by Two, Materials and Motion)

ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACTIVITIES:

· Learn to Read
· Learn to Write
· Develop a strong number sense; counting, representing, writing numbers 1-100
· The Kindy 500 Reading Race
· Overview of the Biblical Narrative From Genesis Through Revelation

OTHER INFORMATION:

· Must be 5 years old by August 1
· Half-Day – Monday-Friday 8-11:30 a.m.
· Full-Day – Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Grade 1

First grade builds upon a strong literacy and numeracy foundation, adding new experiences into their daily learning with special science and social studies projects.

CURRICULUM:
· Bible: Deep Roots
· Language Arts: Wilson Phonics, Fountas and Pinnell (Reading), 6+1 Trait Writing
· Math: Go Math
· Science: FOSS (Sound and Light, Plants and Animals)
· Social Studies: IN Timelinks

ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACTIVITES:

· Progressing from beginning readers to readers of chapter books
· Mastery of addition and subtraction facts
· Study of the Biblical narrative from Creation through the Promised Land
· Young Author’s Showcase

Grade 2

In second grade, children broaden their reading and math skills, experiment with nature, learn why an understanding of the past is important to our future, and begin incorporating their knowledge and experiences into daily practice.

CURRICULUM:

· Bible: Deep Roots
· Language Arts: Wilson Phonics, Fountas and Pinnell (Reading), 6+1 Trait Writing, Comprehensive Cursive Instruction
· Math: Go Math
· Science: FOSS (Solids and Liquids, Insects and Plants)
· Social Studies: IN Timelinks

ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACTIVITIES:

· Reading to learn as we transition from learning to read.
· Development of addition and subtraction facts beyond beginner levels
· Cursory study through the 4 Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John)

Grade 3

Third grade is an age of exploration and discovery, where students cultivate reliable study skills, develop individual accountability, and learn to ask questions that stimulate critical reasoning.

CURRICULUM:
· Bible: Deep Roots
· Language Arts: Open Court Reading, 6+1 Trait Writing, Comprehensive Cursive Instruction
· Math: Go Math
· Science: FOSS (Motion and Matter, Water and Climate)
· Social Studies: IN Timelinks

ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACTIVITES:

· Living History Museum
· Mastery of multiplication facts
· Cultivation of strong study skills
· Development of cohesive paragraph writing and cursive legibility
· Study of the Biblical narrative surrounding Israel

Grade 4

Fourth grade students are becoming more independent learners, transitioning from the cultivation of foundational skills to the honing of their analytical and abstract thinking skills.

CURRICULUM:
· Bible: Deep Roots
· Language Arts: Open Court Reading, 6+1 Trait Writing, Comprehensive Cursive Instruction
· Math: Go Math
· Science: FOSS (Energy; Soils, Rocks, and Landforms)
· Social Studies: IN Timelinks

ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACTIVITIES:

· Continued exploration of concepts such as: division, fractions, decimals, percentages.
· Cultivation of strong study and critical thinking skills
· Participation in the creating of a mural in the local community

Grade 5

Students experience many “firsts,” from switching classes and teachers each day to participating in school sports, band, choir, drama and technology. It’s also a critical time when peer influence and relationships are very important. Spiritually, students are taking beginning steps to make their faith personal through serving opportunities and developing a Christian worldview.

CURRICULUM:
· Bible: Deep Roots

· Language Arts: Open Court Reading, 6+1 Trait Writing, Comprehensive Cursive Instruction
· Math: Go Math
· Science: FOSS (Living Systems, Earth and Sun, Mixtures and Solutions)
· Social Studies: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, U.S. History

ACHIEVMENTS AND ACTIVITIES:

· Continued exploration of concepts such as: division, fractions, decimals, percentages
· Cultivation of strong study and critical thinking skills
· Participation in the creating of a mural in the local community

Intervention Services

Early literacy intervention is a vital component in ensuring the success of students in the classroom. Each fall, our interventionist looks at all the NWEA standardized test scores of our first and second grade students. Based on those scores and additional teacher recommendations, the interventionist meets one on one with each student to gauge his or her literacy level and needs. If a need is present to ensure success in the classroom, the interventionist will place students in leveled groups for student-centered academic intervention. Kindergarteners are recommended for intervention after the first semester. If the interventionist sees a substantial need for remediation, it will begin in January.  

Students in third, fourth and fifth grade are included in intervention when the student exemplifies a severe literacy deficit.   

The intervention program utilizes several programs to aid in student success. Intervention sessions typically occur three times per week. For those who already have an understanding of letters, blends and how to read, the Fountas and Pinnell Leveled Literacy Intervention is used. LLI is a short-term, supplementary intervention system that utilizes leveled books and fast-paced systematically designed lessons to advance students in their reading fluency and comprehension.  

For students who do not yet know their letters or struggle to blend sounds together, phonics and decodable readers, IMSE Recipe for Reading, Wilson Fundations and other creative instructional methods are used.  

The goal is to get each student to a level in which they can learn in the classroom. Even if a student does not reach grade level that academic year, he or she still may be able to find success in the classroom with the tools gained during intervention.