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Kindergarten:
The kindergarten program gives students the freedom to develop naturally at their own pace. The aim of the class is to enable students to develop positive self-images through important accomplishments. Through this nurturing environment, the children gain language and social skills, grow in problem solving and creativity, lengthen attention spans, advance in coordination and motor skills, and grow in maturity and confidence.
The language arts program has a review of pre-reading skills. Reading is taught through the use of phonics instruction, sight word exercises, and language techniques that integrate reading, writing, and language. The Scribner-Laidlaw reading series is the basal used in the kindergarten program and the series continues through third grade. Several other reading series are utilized in kindergarten. Manuscript handwriting (printing) is taught and integrated throughout the language arts and math programs.
The goal of the math program is to develop understanding of and insight into the patterns of mathematics through concrete materials. The activities are designed to help young children see relationships and interconnections in mathematics and to enable them to deal flexibly with mathematical ideas and concepts. Addition and subtraction equations are introduced at this level as well as place value. Using Everyday Mathematics as a math program becomes a part of the ongoing daily routines of the classrooms, outdoor play, and of those transitional moments that occur during every school day.
Social studies and science are studied through highly motivational units. The students study the state of Texas, beginning map skills, dinosaurs, day and night, the senses, the environment, insects, weather, and volcanoes. Particular emphasis is placed on observational skills using all the senses, describing and classifying objects or events, organizing information, and thinking critically. Students are introduced to the scientific method to practice the methodical study of the world around them. Many creative writing and art activities accompany the factual study.
There are computers in the classroom with educational software. The children have health/fitness class daily, library instruction, art-a-la-carte, computer, and music classes as well as chapel and Christian education. The children are involved in various musical performances at Christmas and throughout the year.
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First Grade:
The first grade language arts program focuses on listening, speaking, and writing by utilizing literature and a basal text both for a variety of reading purposes and for pleasure. Phonetic and contextual clues are used to strengthen encoding and decoding skills. Throughout the year works by famous authors and award-winning books are read to the students. These same sources are available to the students as their reading skills permit them to read the works on their own.
Class writing projects include creative stories, class research projects, informational articles, journal writing and letters. Initially, creative spelling will be allowed; as the students' skills develop, traditional spelling, punctuation, syntax, and grammar will be encouraged. Manuscript handwriting (printing) will be used throughout the year. There is an emphasis on language mechanics that includes punctuation, capitalization, and proper sentence structure. Formal spelling is introduced early in the fall and spelling dictation is used as an assessment of spelling and language skills.
"Everyday Mathematics" recognizes and builds on children's capabilities by expanding the range of their mathematics experiences and ideas. The year-end goals for students include: proficiency in using coins and currency, the ability to tell analog time, recognizing numbers to 1,000, and adding and subtracting. Place value is emphasized as well as estimation, graphing, measuring, problem solving, and logical thinking. These goals are achieved by integrating mathematics instruction into other curriculum areas; special emphasis is placed on applications in science and social studies, on the origins and uses of the language of mathematics, and on the close relationship between mathematics and the visual arts.
In science the students are introduced to the scientific method through the study of space and the sun, living organisms, matter, frogs and toads, and butterflies. Experiments are conducted to reinforce the students' discovery processes and natural curiosity about how and why things work.
In social studies the theme for the year is "I am a citizen." Students learn map skills, beginning with their homes and progressing to their neighborhoods, cities, and states. The "rhythm" of the year is formalized as students study the calendar, historical events, and religious celebrations observed in the United States. At Christmas the students learn about the Christmas customs and traditions around the world. The children begin to learn about our sister school, St. Michael's, in Costa Rica by sharing letters and projects several times a year. Spanish is introduced and taught through experiences with cultural practices rather than lecture and reading.
Enrichment classes include art, music and drama, health/fitness, chapel, Christian education, and library. The library has various reading incentive programs to encourage reading for pleasure. Computer technology is integrated across the curriculum.
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Second Grade:
The language arts curriculum combines the basal reader, phonics instruction, and literature based instruction. Emphasis is placed on comprehension skills and appreciation of quality literature. Vocabulary, listening and speaking skills, expository and creative writing, the structure of language, spelling, and handwriting are important components. Students act out plays as an extension of their reading. Book reports are given to encourage the reading of different types of literature. Love of reading, writing, and poetry is a goal. Reading outside of school is encouraged through the reading incentive programs offered through our library.
Emphasis is placed on "hands-on" math, using the "Everyday Mathematics" program. The use of manipulatives is a major part of the instruction to help students understand concepts. Students master their facts through eighteen, learn procedures for regrouping and begin multiplication and division. Geometry, measurement, numbers, logical thinking, patterns, and problem solving are fundamental elements to the second grade mathematics program. "Everyday Mathematics" establishes a framework for dialogue about mathematics between teacher and children and among the children themselves. Thinking with mathematics becomes as natural as thinking with language.
Students in grades two are required to pass an addition and subtraction test that consists of one hundred problems each. The problems will have sums and minuends of eighteen or less. Students are expected to achieve 70 percent accuracy in five minutes.
In the second grade, students are introduced to a variety of science units. Topics include weather, water, reptiles, bats, birds, and weighing and balancing. Particular emphasis is placed on observational skills using all the senses, describing and classifying objects and events, organizing information, and critical thinking. Students are reintroduced to the scientific method and continue to practice the methodical study of the world around them.
In social studies students study communities, analyze how they function as a whole, and learn personal, social, and civic responsibilities within the community. Students learn the different continents as well as regions within the United States. Writing skills are integrated throughout the entire curriculum. The children are presented the opportunity to write on a regular basis through the use of weekly enrichment contracts in order to develop higher order thinking skills. This homework contract requires the student to assume responsibility for independent learning that will be expected in the following grade.
Enrichment classes include art, music and drama, health/fitness, chapel, Christian education, Spanish, and library. The library has various reading incentive programs to encourage reading for pleasure. Computer technology is integrated across the curriculum.
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Third Grade:
In third grade students begin to focus specifically on study skills. Note-taking skills are taught and modeled by the teacher. Projects become an integral part of the learning process. Student experiences from outside the classroom are shared with the entire group. Students are given assignment sheets that help them see an overview of short-term and long-term assignments. Students begin to accept responsibility for recording assignments and further develop their organizational and study skills at this level. Students begin to budget their learning time and to understand that their involvement away from school needs to parallel their involvement inside the classroom. Teachers support the students and parents through this transitional year.
The combination of a basal reader with sequential skills and a literature based program continue in the third grade language arts program. This balanced approach encourages students to think for themselves and to become effective communicators and lifetime readers. There are many opportunities each day to read and listen to good literature. Different genres of books are explored through regularly scheduled book reports. In addition, students have numerous opportunities for writing each week. Writing skills are stressed throughout the year with assignments both in creative and expository writing. Parts of speech are studied, and weekly spelling lists are given.
A hands-on approach to math, using Everyday Mathematics and various math manipulatives for concept development and exploration, is continued. Games and strategies for developing critical thinking are used. Estimating and problem solving are an integral part of the math curriculum at this level. Other strands of mathematics are incorporated into the daily activities of the third grade, including geometry, measurement, patterns, and logical thinking. These skills parallel numeration and problem solving. Key numeration concepts considered in third grade are subtraction of three and four digit numbers with regrouping, multiplication, and division. Fractions take on an important role in skill development. Everyday Mathematics is an exciting program that involves the learner in the process.
Students in grade three are also required to pass a multiplication test of one hundred items where both of the factors are nine or less. Students are expected to achieve 70 percent accuracy in five minutes.
In the third grade students are introduced to a variety of science units. The first half of the year introduces students to the earth sciences. Studies include space and geology that emphasize the composition, structure, and history of the earth. Students are presented with the structure and dynamics of our developing planet. Our interdependence with the entire planet is emphasized as environmental issues are explored. The second half of the year is devoted to the physical sciences with emphasis on an elementary understanding of matter, energy, motion, simple machines, and chemistry. Students are introduced to a more formalized laboratory procedure in which critical thinking is essential. The life sciences include a study of plants.
The focus of the third grade social studies curriculum is the study of the growth and development of communities and cities across the United States. Students begin with a study of the eastern states and move across the United States eventually ending in Houston. At this time they incorporate an extensive unit on Houston, Then and Now, which covers the history, culture, and current events. Research skills are developed through tie-ins with the literature and art programs.
The children begin to learn about our sister school, St. Michael's, in Costa Rica by sharing letters and projects several times a year. Spanish is taught through experiences with cultural practices rather than lecture and reading.
Enrichment classes include art, music and drama, health/fitness, chapel, Christian education, and library. The library has various reading incentive programs to encourage reading for pleasure. Computer technology is integrated across the curriculum.
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Fourth Grade:
The language arts program is based on literature selections rather than the basal reader. Entire books are enjoyed and analyzed as the skills for this grade are incorporated into class discussions and activities. Literature selection is the core of the curriculum for language arts and parallels units of study in social studies and science. Book reports continue and individual and small group projects reflect the student's evolving understanding of both written and spoken language. Students continue their exploration of the parts of speech.
"Everyday Mathematics" instruction is exciting and involves learners as they explore concepts with manipulatives and activities. The strands of mathematics take on an expanded role at this level. These include pattern and function, measurement, multiplication and long division, adding and subtracting fractions, logical thinking and problem solving, geometry, and numeration. Students learn the place value of large numbers; multiplication and division with one, two and three digit numbers; and fractions as they are compared and ordered using manipulatives as models. Mathematics is incorporated daily through games, activities, and problem solving activities. Students explore math as an integral part of daily life and interpret their experiences with paper and pencil. They write about their math discoveries, and problem solving and estimating skills are shared with the class. Children are encouraged to take risks as they approach the challenges of mathematics.
Students in grade four are required to pass an addition and subtraction test that consists of one hundred problems each. The problems have sums and minuends of eighteen or less. Students are expected to achieve 70 percent accuracy in three minutes. Students in grade four are also required to pass a multiplication and division test that consists of one hundred problems each. The facts include fact families of two factors, both less than ten. Students are expected to achieve 70 percent accuracy in four minutes.
In fourth grade students turn their attention to the rich variety of life around them. They study recycling, water, electricity, magnets, the human body, drugs and the brain, Texas animals, and the wetlands. Observational and organizational skills are strengthened, with increasing emphasis placed on the experimental processes and the development of skills. Students are involved in a long-term project each spring in which they work through the entire scientific process: topic selection, research, formulation of problem and hypothesis, experimental test, data collection and organization, data interpretation, forming conclusions, and publication of findings.
The health curriculum centers on a study of the various human body systems. Students experiment and record data about themselves to gain insights into their health. This hands-on approach often becomes a multidisciplinary lesson that uses mathematics to record and analyze scientific findings and writing or discussion to describe conclusions.
Through the study of the history of Texas each student develops an awareness of the different geographical areas, the contributions of early native tribes, and the influence of early settlers. The role of Texas in the Civil War as well as the major changes in Texas after Reconstruction will be researched and discussed. The students will be required to use the Learning Resource Center and computer lab for developing a research report and share their work with their classmates. Individual and small and large group projects are undertaken.
Spanish is considered a core subject and is taught through experiential activities and interactive conversations. The students are exposed to the attitudes and values of Costa Rican culture as reflected in daily practices in public and private life. Since a familiarity with Spanish-speaking countries enhances the motivation for learning the language and provides a global perspective, Holy Spirit has carefully developed a sister-school relationship with St. Michael's School in San Jose, Costa Rica. Our students have contact with the Costa Rican children through the exchange of class projects, pen-pal letters, and an exchange program in grades.
Enrichment classes include art, music and drama, health/fitness, chapel, Christian education, and library. The library has various reading incentive programs to encourage reading for pleasure. Computer technology is integrated across the curriculum.
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