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K-2 Curriculum

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go. – Dr. Seuss

Dr. Seuss said it best!  A strong foundation in reading begins in early childhood.  Our high-quality early education programs provide an opportunity to get children on the right track by building a strong foundation for pre-reading and school readiness skills.

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As educators we know that reading proficiency in third grade is important to reading literacy because it is the final year your student will continue to "learn to read."  Beyond third grade your student will begin “reading to learn.” It is important that children become proficient readers when they begin fourth grade - it makes learning easier!  

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To develop literacy, students need instruction in two related sets of skills: foundational reading skills and reading comprehension skills. These skills enable students to read words (alphabetics), relate those words to their oral language, and read connected text with sufficient accuracy and fluency to understand what they read.  St. Symphorosa is dedicated to utilizing research-based instructional approaches and differentiated instruction in order to meet the needs of individual learners to provide students with those foundational skills to put them on the path to become a proficient reader. 

Reading and Language Arts

The language arts curriculum is a balanced literacy program that not only builds your students reading proficiency, it incorporates language, comprehension, vocabulary, speaking, and critical thinking exercises.  

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In Kindergarten, the class will share a Read Aloud Book, where the teacher pauses to ask text-dependent questions using dialogic reading prompts as they move through the book and discuss it.  As your student moves through kindergarten to first grade, their focus will shift to identifying the publisher’s attention to language, key ideas, details, craft, and structure of texts.  It provides an instructional system for reading and for developing mastery of speaking, listening and writing as they move onto second grade.  

In second grade the materials focus of students' development of reading, writing, speaking and listening, and language practice. Students have opportunities to learn and practice different types of writing and speaking as the materials are organized to support knowledge building of topics, and to build and apply new vocabulary.

Math

The math curriculum at St. Symphorosa builds a solid foundation in number concepts and focuses on equipping students with multiple strategies and tools necessary to become problem solvers and critical thinkers. Meaningful, hands-on activities and group projects allow students to make ties to their own lives and the outside world, and ensure a complete understanding of concepts, rather than just processes. St. Symphorosa students follow the GoMath! curriculum and incorporate supplemental aides such as IXL Learning, and i-Ready   

Social Studies
The Social Studies curriculum progresses at developmentally appropriate stages, beginning with students exploring their place in the community and continuing through the world. Teachers complement traditional instruction with inquiry based instruction, which is a student-led and teacher-guided instructional method that engages students in investigating issues that are relevant to their lives and relate to real world issues. 

Scholastic "Let's Find Out" Program covers themes such as :

  • Veterans

  • Dental Health

  • Summer Safety

  • Jobs People Do

  • American Monuments/Symbols

  • Rules/Responsibilities

  • Needs and Wants

  • Animal Families/Habitats

  • Pilgrims and Wampanoag Indians

  • Presidents and Patriots

Religion
The Office of Catholic Schools is in the process of rolling out new, revised religion curriculum priority standards for Catholic school students in Pre-K through Grade 8. The religion curriculum priority standards are aligned to Renew My Church imperatives by emphasizing the role of Catholic schools in making disciples, building communities, and inspiring witness as they accompany students in their faith journey.  A focus on encountering Christ in oneself and others through study, service, and prayer is key. (Stay tuned to the OCS website in the coming months as we anticipate a more public sharing of new religion standards for the upcoming school year).

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