Academics – Kindergarten & Elementary

Laying the Foundation of Education

The first years of schooling lay the foundational experiences of a child’s education, and, as such, are perhaps the child’s most important years. The elementary school program creates a firm foundation for academic, physical, spiritual, and social growth. As students proceed through the elementary grades, they learn the skills and disciplines needed for Junior High School; they learn both freedom and boundaries and how to work both independently and with others. In addition to reading and mathematics, students receive instruction in computers, art, music, physical education, and library and research skills. Field trips, creative projects, and research are used to extend and solidify learning and to give students creative expression. Bible study exposes students to both the Old and New Testaments and encourages the development of each child’s personal relationship with God. We work, at all grade levels, to make learning fun and life-long.

Kindergarten

Kindergarten is a time of exploration. In Kindergarten we strive to foster and guide each child’s own curiosity and natural desire to learn. Concepts in reading and math are first discovered through directed games, play, and activities, and then taught. Discovery of sound combinations, creative story telling, and writing open the door to instruction in phonics, reading, language, and writing. Math manipulatives introduce number patterns and relationships. Creative play, art, music, and science are vehicles for each child’s imagination and creativity. In Kindergarten we strive to maintain and enhance each child’s desire to learn while giving them the building blocks to do so. Kindergarten is a full-day program with extended care to 6:00 pm daily.

First Grade Curriculum

• Phonics and literature-based reading with an emphasis on comprehension and vocabulary development.
• Sight recognition and spelling of Fry and Dolch high-frequency words and phrases.
• Spelling and language instruction applied in beginning composition and research.
• Math, including use of manipulatives and games, emphasizing addition, number order through 100, subtraction, and problem solving.
• Science, including weather, animals and their habitats, plants, the earth, healthy living, safety and nutrition, scientific inquiry, and experiments.
• Social studies stressing holidays, family, self, cultures, and beginning map skills.
• Music and art.
• Bible Study, including reading and discussing the stories of the Old Testament from creation through Joseph.
• Physical Education stressing the development of large and small muscle coordination imperative for learning, sportsmanship, and group games.
• Research skills, including library and internet research, projects, and reports.
• Beginning Spanish.

Second Grade Curriculum

• Phonics and literature-based reading with an emphasis on comprehension and vocabulary development.
• Sight recognition and spelling of Fry and Dolch high-frequency words.
• Spelling and language instruction applied in beginning composition.
• Math, including use of manipulatives and games to learn addition and subtraction with regrouping, place value, time and money concepts, measurement, fractions, geometric shapes, beginning multiplication, and problem solving.
• Science, including life cycles of plants and animals, the earth, healthy living, safety, nutrition, scientific inquiry, and experiments.
• Social studies stressing community and country, beginning map skills, self and social interaction, research, projects, and reports.
• Music and art.
• Bible Study, including reading and discussing stories of the Old Testament that teach lessons in character development, such as Moses, Joshua, Daniel, Job, Esther, Elijah, and David.
• Physical Education stressing the development of large and small muscle coordination imperative for learning, sportsmanship, and group games.
• Beginning Spanish.

Third Grade Curriculum

• Phonics and literature-based reading with emphasis on comprehension, vocabulary, and inferential questions.
• Sight recognition of Fry and Dolch high-frequency words.
• Spelling and introduction to cursive handwriting.
• Composition, language conventions, and grammar through writing and editing.
• Math, including more complex addition and subtraction, problem solving, multiplication and division, logic, time and money concepts, and measurement.
• Social Studies stressing American geography, American Indians, and the Westward Expansion, and an introduction to American government, including research, projects, and reports.
• Science, including life, earth, and physical science. Students learn through discovery, discussion, observation, and experiments.
• Research and study skills, projects, and reports.
• Music, art, and computer instruction.
• Bible study of the Old Testament prophets.
• Physical Education, including sportsmanship and group games along with beginning team sports.
• Beginning Spanish.

Fourth Grade Curriculum

• Literature-based reading program including novels. Increased independent reading with an emphasis on vocabulary.
• Sight recognition of Fry and Dolch high-frequency words.
• Spelling, cursive handwriting, English grammar, editing and proofreading, creative and expository composition.
• Math, including complex addition and subtraction, multiplication, division, problem solving, logic, fractions, money concepts, and measurement.
• Social Studies, stressing California history and geography, including research, projects, and reports.
• Science, including life, earth, and physical science. Students learn through discovery, reading, discussion, observation, and experiments.
• Research and study skills, projects, and reports.
• Music, art, typing, and computer instruction, including presentation multi-media programs.
• Bible study, including Old Testament prophets.
• Physical Education, including sportsmanship and group games, along with beginning team sports.
• Beginning conversational Spanish.

Fifth Grade Curriculum

• Literature and skills-based reading program including novels. Increased independent reading.
• Expanded research, reports, and projects. Library and internet skills.
• Computer skills, including word processing and the use of the internet.
• Pre-Civil War American History and Geography.
• Creative and expository writing, spelling, English grammar, editing, and proofreading.
• Science, including life, earth, and physical science with experiments.
• Math, concentrating on deepening skills through the use of manipulatives, games, and direct instruction, including problem solving and fractions.
• Art and music instruction, including music appreciation.
• Life and study skills.
• Physical Education, including the President’s Challenge and team sports.
• Bible Studies of the life of Christ and an introduction to the New Testament Church.
• Beginning conversational Spanish.

Sixth Grade Curriculum

• Literature and skills-based reading program including Great Books Literature and novels. Increased independent reading.
• Expanded research, reports, and projects. Library and internet research skills.
• Computer skills, including word processing and the use of the internet.
• Ancient World History and Geography, with emphasis on experiencing through plays, projects, and reports.
• Creative and expository writing, spelling, English grammar, editing, and proofreading.
• Science, including life, earth, and physical science with experiments.
• Math, concentrating on deepening skills through the use of manipulatives, games, and direct instruction, including problem solving, fractions, geometry and beginning algebra concepts.
• Art and music instruction, including music appreciation.
• Life and study skills.
• Physical Education, including the President’s Challenge and team sports.
• Bible Studies reviewing the life of Christ, the New Testament Church, and the Apostle Paul’s journeys, ministry, and epistles.
• Beginning conversational Spanish.