Primary 1-3 Curriculum

Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten
Primary 1-3
Intermediate 4-5
Middle School 6-8

Skills in grades 1-3 are presented in a variety of ways: direct instruction, classroom discussion, group questioning, use of manipulatives, learning centers, group projects, visual aids and dramatization are all used to facilitate the learning process. Student progress is assessed by the classroom teacher using observation, formal testing, and projects.

The Religion curriculum is the foundation for the children’s spiritual growth and the development of their knowledge of the Catholic faith. Jesus as our friend, our Father and our Savior is the heart of the Religion program in the primary grades. Preparation for the sacrament of Eucharist is part of the program.

Basic skills stressed in Reading are: comprehension, decoding strategies, following directions, categorizing, vocabulary, comparing and contrasting, fluency and expression in oral reading, silent reading and developing in the students an appreciation for reading. A variety of speaking, listening, and writing activities are provided to stimulate students to use thinking, questioning, and responding skills.

·	In Language Arts, the focus is on the parts of speech, sentence and paragraph structure, basic creative writing and mechanics of grammar. Cursive writing is introduced in second grade.

Mathematics emphasizes the acquisition of basic skills, critical thinking, and problem solving. Math skills stressed are basic number concepts, graphing, basic addition and subtraction facts, regrouping in addition and subtraction, place value, multiplication and division facts, time, money, geometry and patterns, and algebraic reasoning.

The Science curriculum explores general topics such as life cycles, energy and effects of nature and uses scientific inquiry to stimulate student involvement. There are opportunities to acquire knowledge about scientific facts, solve problems, make decisions, and develop logical, critical, rational, and creative thinking skills.

·	The Social Studies curriculum focuses on the community and how it relates to family, neighborhood, city, state, country, and world through the development of study, thinking, and map skills.