Language ArtsThe kindergarten language arts curriculum is designed to introduce our students to the power of print and the joy of becoming literate. Kindergarten teachers help build foundational reading, writing and spelling skills, including print and phonemic awareness. We use a multisensory program, based on the science of reading, that explicitly teaches the connections between letters and sounds. It focuses on phonological awareness, decoding, and sight recognition, and helps students understand when, how, and why we use phonics to read and write. Enrichment and remediation activities supplement students’ learning, as needed. Students actively engage in activities that foster language comprehension skills: using background knowledge, vocabulary, language structures, verbal reasoning, and literacy knowledge. They respond to big books in shared reading and to the leveled texts specifically chosen to meet each child's needs and abilities through guided reading. Students are guided at their independent reading level as well as invited to attempt more difficult books while working on fluency, expression, and reading comprehension. Kindergartners begin to establish their identities as readers as they pay close attention to characters, setting, and plot while reading fictional stories. They become experts in nonfiction topics as they read together, and they play with rhyme and rhythm while reading poetry. Explicit interactive mini lessons help unlock the mystery of what good readers are doing while reading. Our teachers make their thinking audible and visible to begin laying a foundation of important metacognitive and comprehension skills. Children begin their lifelong writing journeys in kindergarten. Instruction includes penmanship, sentence structure, basic punctuation and grammar. Students begin approximating writing by drawing, illustrating, and labeling stories. They learn to write narratives, how-to pieces, and informational texts. Tools and resources: Developmental Reading Assessment or Fountas & Pinnell Benchmark Assessment, IMSE Orton Gillingham, Reading Units of Study or Fountas & Pinnell Reading, Writing Units of Study or Growing Writers, Reading A to Z |
MathematicsThrough Singapore Math, kindergarten teachers focus on teaching mastery of skills through intentional sequencing of concepts of math. Children learn to think mathematically rather than memorize the mechanics of problem solving. Key features of Singapore Math include the concrete, abstract, pictorial progression, number bonds, bar modeling, and mental math. Students are encouraged to consider alternate methods for problem solving, promoting logical thinking. Through the Dimensions Math program by Singapore Math Inc., kindergartners learn to:
Tools and resources: Dimensions Math Textbooks and Workbooks, KA and KB |
ScienceKindergarteners begin to learn what it means to be a scientist. They investigate to learn why things happen and they use their senses to explore, manipulate, observe, classify, solve problems, and draw conclusions. Students actively participate in lab experiments, group activities, and discussions. Topics include:
Tools and resources: Savvas Elevate Science, Mystery Science, BrainPOP |
Social StudiesKindergarten Social Studies is focused on “Learning and Working Together”. Children learn about the foundational concepts of identity, diversity, cooperation, and citizenship. These themes, among others, are woven into a discovery of significant people, places, and historical events. Children are also introduced to using primary sources, maps, and timelines to learn about the world around them. Units explore the following questions:
Tools and resources: McGraw Hill Impact Social Studies |
Resources and after school programs provide enriching experiences through art, music, library, computer, Spanish, Chapel, community service, and athletics.
Language ArtsFirst graders are just tapping into their burgeoning powers as readers and writers, and believe they can do anything. Our program is challenging, research-based, and designed to help our students become proficient decoders, fluent readers, and budding authors. We use a multisensory program based on the science of reading that explicitly teaches the connections between letters and sounds. It focuses on phonological awareness, decoding, and sight recognition and helps students understand when, how, and why we use phonics to read and write. The implementation of small group guided reading lessons and a well-balanced literacy diet of selected fiction and nonfiction texts allows first grade students many opportunities to practice comprehension strategies and skills. Enrichment and remediation activities supplement students’ learning as needed. By first grade, students are building good reading habits. Children tap into their natural curiosity as they explore nonfiction and learn comprehension strategies, word solving, vocabulary, fluency, and author’s craft. Our phonics program sets children up to read increasingly complex texts. Story elements and skills foundational to literal and inferential comprehension are spotlighted. The students are enabled to dive deep, extending their reading skills to their farthest reach. In writing, first graders begin by taking the everyday events of their young lives and making them into focused, well-structured stories. Students then enter the world of informational writing as they combine facts to write nonfiction texts about famous people and/or animals. Students learn to breathe life into characters by making them talk, think, and interact with the reader. Learning to “show, not tell” and use action, dialogue, and feelings to create a series of fiction books is a big step. Students finish the year with learning the parts of, and how to write, a friendly letter. Tools and resources: Developmental Reading Assessment or Fountas & Pinnell Benchmark Assessment, IMSE Orton Gillingham, Reading Units of Study, Core Knowledge, or Fountas & Pinnell Reading, Writing Units of Study or Growing Writers, Reading A to Z, IXL |
MathematicsDimensions Math, a program by Singapore Math Inc., teaches children to think mathematically, laying a solid foundation for conceptual understanding using a three-step process, moving children from concrete to pictorial, then abstract approaches to learning. Utilizing metacognitive skills to assess solutions, students consider alternate methods for problem-solving, promoting logical thinking. Dimensions Math units include:
Tools and resources: Dimensions Math Textbooks and Workbooks 1A and 1B, Primary Mathematics Extra Practice Book, XtraMath, Reflex Math |
ScienceOur science program intentionally builds on a child’s natural curiosity and creativity using teaching methods that promote innovation and focus on experiential learning. First grade scientists learn about tools scientists use, observe changes in living and nonliving objects, and investigate the world around them. First grade science units include:
Tools and resources: Savvas Elevate Science, Mystery Science, BrainPOP |
Social StudiesIn social studies, first graders begin to orient themselves with their surroundings. They develop investigative skills that guide them to make connections to the people and places closest to them. They celebrate community and country through interactive explorations, all while building the skills they need to understand their place in the world. Units explored to answer the following essential questions:
Tools and resources: McGraw Hill Impact Social Studies |
Resources and after-school programs provide enriching experiences through art, music, library, computer, Spanish, Chapel, community service, and athletics.
Language ArtsUnderstanding that second graders operate at different skill levels, the language arts program aims to refine skills introduced in first grade with the ultimate goal of students becoming joyful, thoughtful, independent readers and writers. Students strengthen their phonological awareness, decoding, fluency, and comprehension skills through the use of our multisensory program, based on the science of reading, as well as reading different genres. Leveled texts are selected to encourage multicultural awareness, intellectual curiosity, and empathy. Students work on communication and clarity of expression by strengthening sentence writing skills and learning to organize details into informative paragraphs and fictional stories. Enrichment and remediation activities supplement students’ learning, as needed. This program prepares students for the transition toward content area reading and writing, which are stressed in third grade. Children are encouraged to take charge of their reading, drawing on everything they know to decode hard words, understand the author's craft, and build big ideas about the books they read. Second graders work on word solving, vocabulary development, and comparing and contrasting information across texts. Students learn strategies to build three foundational reading skills—fluency, understanding figurative language, and comprehension. Working in small groups, students study the author’s craft. By studying familiar books and authors students understand ways authors use word choice, figurative language, and punctuation. Second graders are taught to craft powerful true stories. Across the writing genres, children learn to understand—and apply to their own writing—techniques they discover in the work of published authors. The children read closely and gather evidence from texts to craft persuasive arguments. Students also explore language by writing poetry and use visualization and figures of speech to make their writing more clear and powerful. Tools and resources: Developmental Reading Assessment or Fountas & Pinnell Benchmark Assessment, IMSE Orton Gillingham, Reading Units of Study or Fountas & Pinnell Reading, Writing Units of Study or Growing Writers, Reading A to Z, IXL |
MathematicsDimensions Math, a program by Singapore Math Inc., teaches children to think mathematically, laying a solid foundation for conceptual understanding using a three-step process, moving children from concrete to pictorial, then abstract approaches to learning. Utilizing metacognitive skills to assess solutions, students consider alternate methods for problem-solving, promoting logical thinking. Second grade Dimensions Math units include:
Tools and resources: Dimensions Math Textbooks and Workbooks 2A and 2B, Primary Mathematics Extra Practice Book, XtraMath, Reflex Math |
ScienceFollowing NGSS standards and STEM practices, second grade students experience science through hands-on learning in the lab! Our science lab classes are active environments where children participate in lab experiments, group activities, and group discussions. We work with students to develop lab skills and science thinking habits. Second grade scientists investigate, explore, and examine:
Tools and resources: Savvas Elevate Science, Mystery Science, BrainPOP |
Social StudiesSecond grade students are “Exploring Who We Are.” Children are given the tools to investigate our country and world through the lenses of history, geography, economy, and government. They learn how people interact with the world around them and explore ways that they can impact their world as well. They connect their community’s past and present to prepare themselves for their role in their community’s future. Essential questions for second grade:
Tools and resources: McGraw Hill Impact Social Studies |
Resources and after school programs provide enriching experiences through art, music, library, computer, Spanish, Chapel, community service, and athletics.
Language ArtsThird grade is an exciting year for students. While continuing to develop each component of the reading process, our students are becoming more independent readers, making the crucial transition from learning to read to reading to learn. We use challenging, research-based programs that review and extend each student’s reading and writing foundation. Small group guided reading lessons provide a balanced literacy diet of selected novels, fiction, and nonfiction texts, allowing students many opportunities to practice comprehension strategies. Enrichment and remediation activities supplement students’ learning as needed. Children enhance their reading skills by immersing themselves in fiction books while working on word solving, vocabulary development, and prediction. They learn to closely observe characters, make predictions, and sharpen their interpretation skills. Students learn essential skills for reading expository nonfiction, such as ascertaining main ideas, recognizing text infrastructure, and thinking critically. Third graders write about topics from their own experiences. This first-hand knowledge helps them with the challenging task of learning to synthesize and organize information. These newfound abilities are used to persuade people about causes the children believe matter. Children explore fiction-writing techniques by studying fairy tales and writing their own. Traditional grammar continues in third grade, focusing on nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, and prepositions. The student becomes more independent with grammar. They also study vocabulary, synonyms, antonyms, and analogies. Additionally, there is a focus on proper punctuation and capitalization, the correct placement of commas, and learning the four types of sentences: declarative, imperative, exclamatory, and interrogative. Tools and resources: Developmental Reading Assessment or Fountas & Pinnell Benchmark Assessment, IMSE Orton Gillingham, Reading Units of Study or Fountas & Pinnell Reading, Shurley English, Writing Units of Study or Growing Writers, IXL |
MathematicsDimensions Math, a program by Singapore Math Inc., is continued in third grade. Children learn to think mathematically, laying a solid foundation for conceptual understanding using a three-step process, taking children from concrete, to pictorial, then abstract approaches to learning. Utilizing metacognitive skills to assess solutions, we encourage students to consider multiple methods for problem-solving, promoting logical thinking. Third graders are expected to:
Tools and resources: Dimensions Math Textbooks and Workbooks 3A and 3B, XtraMath, Reflex |
ScienceFollowing NGSS standards and STEM practices, thirdngrade students experience science through hands-on learning in the lab with connections to real-world problems and solutions. Our science lab classes are active environments where students participate in lab experiments, group activities, and group discussions. Science teachers work with students to develop lab skills and science thinking habits. Third grade scientists investigate, explore, and examine:
Tools and resources: Savvas Elevate Science, Mystery Science, BrainPOP |
Social StudiesThe social studies curriculum focuses on Jacksonville's history, geography, and political science while incorporating a project-based approach. The relevancy of the topics for our students makes for a high-interest learning opportunity packed with exciting discoveries. Vocabulary, spelling, and writing are also incorporated into this theme. Students learn how to navigate their way through a social studies textbook, learn about the text features of nonfiction texts which supports future learning, and learn how to think like a historian. The students celebrate the strengths and potential of people from past cultures. The culmination of each unit is a field trip to various historical sites. Essential questions for third grade:
Tools and resources: McGraw Hill Impact Social Studies |
Resources and after school programs provide enriching experiences through art, music, library, computer, Spanish, Chapel, community service, and athletics.
Language ArtsThe fourth grade language arts program is a challenging, research-based program designed to help our students become analytical, solid thinkers, competent writers, and joyful readers. Vocabulary, word analysis, spelling, and writing opportunities are incorporated into our studies to create cohesive learning experiences for our students. Small group guided reading lessons with targeted skill practice and novel-based literature circles meet the individual demands of our students. Collaborative experiences and exposure to different perspectives of classmates and different types of literature improve both written and oral communication, thus preparing our students for the transition to fifth grade. Enrichment and remediation activities supplement students’ learning as needed. In fourth grade, the children delve into complex texts and see significance in details. Students study the complexity of characters and themes. The children develop their skills in cross-text synthesis and practice close reading. Students compare and contrast, and evaluate sources to determine credibility through forming research teams. Historical fiction groups become a vehicle to practice reading analytically, synthesizing complicated narratives, comparing and contrasting themes, and incorporating nonfiction research into their reading. The fourth grade writing units familiarize students with the genres they regularly encounter throughout school. They begin the year writing realistic fiction and learning to develop rich characters and stories. They learn that the lenses they bring to reading fiction can also be brought to writing fiction. Students increase proficiency with thesis-driven persuasive essays, historical research reports, and literary essays. The grammar foundation is reinforced as fourth graders study parts of speech, parts of the sentence, and usage and incorporate what they have learned into their writing. Tools and resources: Developmental Reading Assessment or Fountas & Pinnell Benchmark Assessment, IMSE Orton Gillingham, Reading Units of Study or Fountas & Pinnell Reading, Shurley English, Writing Units of Study or Growing Writers, IXL |
MathematicsFourth grade utilizes Dimensions Math by Singapore Math Inc. Children learn to think mathematically, laying a solid foundation for conceptual understanding using a three-step process, taking children from concrete to pictorial and then abstract approaches to learning. Utilizing metacognitive skills to assess solutions, we encourage students to consider multiple methods for problem-solving, promoting logical thinking.
Tools and resources: Dimensions Math Textbooks and Workbooks 3A and 3B, XtraMath, Reflex and Frax Math |
ScienceFollowing NGSS Science standards and STEM practices, fourth grade science is hands-on and minds-on. Students are active in class, participating in lab experiments, group activities, and group discussions. Students learn lab skills and basic content knowledge to prepare them for more complex topics. Fourth graders ask questions, define science problems, develop and use models, plan and carry out investigations, and analyze and interpret data. These experiences and endeavors will assist students in establishing a solid foundation for a lifetime of science learning. Fourth grade science units:
Tools and resources: Savvas Elevate Science, Mystery Science, BrainPOP |
Social StudiesSocial Studies in fourth grade is a time of real discovery. Our students learn to think like geographers, economists, and historians as they learn about the diversity of our nation. In Regions of the United States, students will learn about each region's history, geography, government, and economics. By interacting with maps, charts, timelines, and primary sources, students discover what makes each region unique and what connects each region to each other and to the world. Essential questions for fourth grade include:
Tools and resources: McGraw Hill Impact Social Studies |
Resources and after school programs provide enriching experiences through art, music, library, computer, Spanish, Chapel, community service, and athletics.
Language ArtsThe fifth grade language arts program is challenging and research-based. Literature is full of purposeful and engaging opportunities within a variety of genres including poetry, historical fiction, realistic fiction, and nonfiction. The selections are chosen to meet the developmental needs of the students while honing their intellectual independence. Vocabulary and writing instruction are targeted and tied to student reading selections. Research skills are practiced as students write reports and create presentation materials. The grammar foundation is reinforced as fifth graders study parts of speech, parts of the sentence, and usage and incorporate what they have learned into their writing. An emphasis on strong foundational skills, such as fluency and word solving, is one of the focuses for fifth grade readers. Children investigate how nonfiction texts are becoming more complex and learn strategies to tackle these new challenges. Students read nonfiction texts under the umbrella of argument and advocacy. The fifth-grade year wraps up with an immersion in the fantasy genre and deeper level of thinking skills to study how authors develop characters and themes over time. Students begin the year writing reflective personal narratives. Writing research reports is another part of the fifth grade process. Students learn that form follows content as they choose to write in either the essay, narrative, or memoir genre. Fifth-graders conclude their year learning to build powerful arguments that convincingly balance evidence and analysis to persuade readers to action. Tools and resources: Developmental Reading Assessment or Fountas & Pinnell Benchmark Assessment, IMSE Orton Gillingham, Reading Units of Study or Fountas & Pinnell Reading, Shurley English, Writing Units of Study or Growing Writers, IXL |
MathematicsWe utilize Dimensions Math by Singapore Math Inc. in fifth grade. Children learn to think mathematically, laying a solid foundation for conceptual understanding using a three-step process, taking children from concrete to pictorial and abstract approaches to learning. Utilizing metacognitive skills to assess solutions, we encourage students to consider multiple methods for problem-solving, promoting logical thinking.
Tools and resources: Dimensions Math Textbooks and Workbooks 3A and 3B, XtraMath, Reflex and Frax Math |
ScienceFollowing NGSS standards and STEM practices, fifth grade science is hands-on and minds-on, with connections to real-world problems and solutions. Students actively participate in class through lab experiments, group activities, and group discussions. Students continue to hone their lab skills and knowledge of the scientific process to prepare them for middle school. Fifth graders ask questions and define problems in science, develop and use models, plan and carry out investigations, and analyze and interpret data. Fifth grade scientists study:
Our fifth graders have several additional experiential science experiences through field trips. They travel to NASA KSC Exploration Station at Kennedy Space Center, swim with manatees in Crystal River, Florida, and study plant life, ecosystems, natural surroundings, and so much more at the Kanuga Center in North Carolina. These experiences and endeavors assist students in establishing a solid foundation for a lifetime of science learning. Tools and resources: Savvas Elevate Science, Mystery Science, BrainPOP |
Social StudiesSocial studies in the fifth grade explores in depth early American history, the settling of the west, the Civil War, Industrialization of America, modern America, and current events. Students learn about North America before the founding of the United States as well as the first several decades of the republic. By engaging with diverse perspectives and primary sources, students will build an understanding of the cooperation and conflicts that defined the early nation. The units explored answer the following essential questions:
Tools and resources: McGraw Hill Impact Social Studies |
Resources and after school programs provide enriching experiences through art, music, library, computer, Spanish, Chapel, community service, and athletics.