Kindergarten - 2nd Grade
What Do We Teach?
CCSS standards are used as a foundation for learning targets in all subjects. Religion instruction is derived from the Los Angeles Catholic Archdiocese. Music and PE are taught weekly and integrated throughout all daily instruction.
How Do We Teach?
Instructional methods include a variety of individual, partner, small group and whole group instruction with support. Daily conversations and conferences with, and among students, under teacher guidance, are designed to motivate, engage, and increase learning. We recognize that even in kindergarten students are at different levels of learning and not all are at the same pace. Therefore, we differentiate our instruction to provide all students with an “achievable stretch”. We deploy instruction in ways that encourage students to see themselves as thinkers, writers, and mathematicians in every learning experience. In TK through Kindergarten, we begin the journey towards assisting students to understand HOW the learning process works.
How Do We Know Students Learn?
Assessments are done in consistent and ongoing ways. At these levels, assessments include:
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Informal anecdotal record keeping done by the teacher
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Classroom based assessments (CBAs) and tests including beginning use of Core Instructional Model (CIM)
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Rubrics (both student and teacher based
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Report cards
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Writing samples/published pieces – evaluation
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Site Word Assessments
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STAR Enterprise online assessments in reading, math, and literacy depending on grade
(early literacy; all grades, reading 1st - 2nd grade, math 1st - 2nd grade)
Literacy
Acquisition is based on teaching strong foundational skills in sound:letter correspondence (phonics), basic sight words, and initial fluency in reading aloud. Comprehension is developed through specific instruction of reading strategies, prompted questioning techniques, and rich conversation where children make connections to text and self. With Common Core, we focus on developing BOTH literary and informational text skills.
Science
Provides hands-on activities and exploration to help students develop skills of scientific concepts and vocabulary in areas of physical, life and earth science. Focusing on their five senses, students investigate a variety of objects: classifying, comparing and sorting. With prompting from the teacher as needed, they learn to ask questions, make observations, collect simple data, and make predictions in preparation for more formal scientific inquiry in later grades.
Writing
Utilizes Common Core writing standards and Benchmark Advance curriculum materials, plus other topics researched by the teacher. Students learn early that they are all writers with something important to say. Using phonetic spelling and sketching, students produce short narratives, informational “how to” writing, and simple persuasive paragraphs. They learn the basic grammar of sentence construction, craft, organization, and elaboration while engaging in the writing process.
Social Studies
Begins with a focus on what it means to be a good citizen. We discuss feeling and problem-solving tactics. Throughout the year we learn about holidays and important historical figures. Further areas of study include map skills, past and present, community helpers and American symbols.
Mathematics
Skills focus on counting, cardinality and overall number sense. Students learn that numbers represent quantity and can be used to solve simple addition/subtraction computational problems. We establish basic foundations in the areas of algebra, measurement, geometry, and mathematical reasoning. Math is applied to real life situations
Religion
Integrated throughout the day. Students learn basic prayers, the sign of the cross, and begin the study of Jesus’ from before and after his birth.
