Curriculum
The following is a condensed version of the curriculum for each grade at Immanuel Lutheran School.
Kindergarten
Religion:
Concordia Publishing House publishes the Christian based Voyages program that gives the opportunity for lessons about God, Jesus, and His followers to be taught. The daily lessons focus on the topic of the weekly theme. Each Friday, the Family Letter will go home. It is a description of what the Kindergarten class was talking about for the week. It may be cut along the dotted lines, and then your child can use the Family Letter scene to retell the week’s story.
We have a special friend who sometimes visits during Jesus Time – a puppet, Jelly. He is quite entertaining and the children really like him! We also have fun learning new songs, going to Chapel on Wednesday’s, and learning our weekly Bible verses!
Reading:
In Kindergarten we use the Houghton Mifflin Reading program that is based on phonics and balanced literacy. We learn the letters of the alphabet (both upper and lower case) and their sounds, how those letters go together to make words, and how words are put together to make sentences. Some of the methods we use to promote reading and reading skills include:
Teacher ‘read-alouds’ from picture and chapter books
Guided reading groups (later in the year)
Independent reading from personal book baggies
Whole group reading using trade books in content areas (example: science-books on apples during our apple unit; social studies-books on helpers during our community helpers unit)
At-home reading minutes
Book discussions
Library time
National Geographic for Kids magazine
Kindergarteners will also use centers and games to reinforce letter recognition, phonemic awareness, phonics skill building, and sequencing. We will sing songs and chant rhymes, retell stories, and identify beginning, middle, and end of stories.
Writing:
The Kindergarten curriculum focuses on printing and proper letter formation in both the upper and lowercase letters. We use the Handwriting Without Tears program. The program uses wood pieces, letter cards and mats as readiness materials to develop skills in a playful but structured way. Slates, sponges, and chalk are also used in the “wet, dry, try” procedure. The is an orientation icon to let students know where to start their letters and numbers. We also use a rocking CD to make learning our letters and numbers fun and memorable. Lessons are organized to help children learn handwriting skills in the easiest, most efficient way (beginning with the capital letters, then lower case letters, and numbers-which will be taught in math).
Kindergartners will also be journal writing. This will incorporate a range of items from drawing a picture and labeling it, drawing a picture and writing a sentence (or two), copying a daily message, writing their own daily message, and writing across the curriculum (theme based; example – after our field trip to the apple/pumpkin farm, the student will draw their favorite part and describe it).
Mathematics:
We use the Scott Foresman-Addison Wesley program. The scope and sequence for Kindergarten addresses the following concepts:
Whole number concepts and operations (numeration-meaning of numbers, reading and writing numbers, ordinal numbers, comparing and ordering; addition/subtraction-meaning of, basic facts and strategies, problem solving)
Fraction concepts - part of a whole
Number Sense, Estimation, and Mental Math (number sense-meaning of whole numbers, fractions, number patterns, number relationships, relative magnitude of numbers; estimation-estimation quantities and measures; mental math-count on/count back, make ten, skip count)
Mathematical Processes (problem solving-choose an operation, use objects/act it out, draw or use a picture/diagram, guess and check, look for a pattern, make an organized list, use logical reasoning, make a choice; reasoning-classifying/sorting, comparing/contrasting, finding/extending/using patterns/making generalizations, drawing conclusions, visual patterns, spatial reasoning; reading fro math, write about it/journal, talk about it/share)
Geometry (plane and solid shapes-identify and relate plane and solid figures, circles and parts of circles, draw/construct/build, visual thinking; classification-congruent figures, triangles, quadrilaterals)
Patterns - with objects/geometric figures, with numbers, skip counting, making predictions, logical reasoning
Measurement, Time, and Money (measurement-comparing lengths and sizes, nonstandard units, estimating length, capacity and weight, temperature; time-nearest hour/half-hour, estimating time, calendar; money-identify coins and bills, count and show amounts, comparing)
Data and Statistics (graphing-reading/making pictographs, making predictions; data-collecting an organizing data, reading/making charts and tables, tally charts, using data in problem solving)
Social Studies and Science:
Concepts in these areas will be taught around themes and will be incorporated into our whole group reading and activity time. Opportunities for field trips, experiments, art projects, and other classroom activities will promote learning. Some of the curriculum topics that may be included, but are not limited to: All About Me, Families, Community Helpers, Transportation, Apples, Pumpkins, Holidays, Winter/Snow, Animal Homes…
Concepts are also reinforced through the use of the National Geographic for Kids magazine.
Character Education:
Habits of good citizens are addressed on a daily basis, through literature and real life situations. Our Morning Meeting/Calendar Time and Afternoon Wrap-Up provides an opportunity to build community and address important issues each day. We focus on:
Respect
Responsibility
Fairness
Caring
Honesty
Consequences for actions
Personal safety and health
I hope I have provided you with an understanding of the Kindergarten curriculum. If you have questions about the program here at Immanuel Lutheran School, please send me a note, email, or phone call (203-748-7823 ext. 33) to leave a message. I will get back to you as soon as possible.
I look forward to learning with your child this year!
Sincerely,
Suzanne Puglisi
Reading – A Balanced Literacy Program
Total Immersion – Reading is not an
isolated subject. It is used all day long in every aspect
of the child’s day.
Things you will find in a Kindergarten reading program.
Reading
Aloud – Purpose is
for enjoyment, vocabulary building/development, and
exposure to good literature, raising comprehension, and
teacher modeling oral reading.
Shared
Reading – An expert
is modeling reading. It can be done in many ways:
one on one
small group poetry
whole group paired reading choral reading
tape recorder and read along book
Guided
Reading – The
teacher works with a group of children. The teacher and
each child have a copy of the book. The group has been
chosen for a specific reason. The teacher may want to teach
the short /a/ sound to this group or work on higher
thinking skills such as predicting. The groups change
according to student’s needs.
Whole
Class Guided Reading – occurs when the teacher has a
specific reason for teaching something to the entire class.
For example, many teach the science and social studies
curriculum through whole class guided reading. Also,
lessons on sequencing, reading for information, modeling
questioning techniques, modeling beginning, middle, and end
of stories can be taught this way.
Sustained
Silent Reading/Independent Reading – Each child is free to choose books or
magazines that interest him/her. It is a quiet reading
time. The children are accountable for their reading
through a reading log or an alternate method chosen by the
teacher.
Homework
– Reading is a skill and
skills need to be practiced. This is why there is 15
minutes of reading a night.
Phonics
– The children are
instructed in phonics directly and indirectly. Every
opportunity is taken to name letters, their sounds, how
sounds go together to make new sounds and words throughout
the day.
Literature
– There is an abundant
supply of reading material that may be used.
Instructors –
Teachers, assistants, tutors, and parents all help the
child with reading. The more the children practice and are
taught strategies the more successful they will become.
Benchmarks
– These are the standards
designed to provide criteria by which the children are
measured.
First
Grade
In first grade, we learn to know God,
especially his constant love and forgiveness, to live
happily as a member of His family and to be a witness to
His love. In reading, students are exposed to a phonetic
word attack system and a wide range of quality
literature to read. As students grow in their reading
abilities, writing and spelling are reinforced. In
handwriting, we practice the basic strokes and letters.
We learn to appreciate the uniqueness and value of our
world and its people. We experience science as a way of
exploring the natural world in various ways. Sorting,
classifying, shapes, patterns, comparing, ordering,
graphing, numbers to 100, measuring time, distance and
money, addition and subtraction are all part of the math
curriculum.
Second
Grade
In second grade, we learn in religion
class that Jesus loves each one of us personally as
individuals. Students grow in reading and comprehension
skills. We read many kinds of literary selections,
learning to identify story settings and drawing
conclusions from the text. Students discover how
listening, speaking, reading, and writing are all
related to one another. They develop grammar, usage and
spelling skills. They become familiar with the five
stages of the writing process-pre-writing, writing,
revising, proofreading and publishing. In social
studies, students learn to think creatively and
critically about themselves and their relationship to
others. In mathematics, students learn to reason
mathematically; we cover such objectives as
understanding addition and subtraction, sums to 18,
patterns and graphs, measurement, two-digit addition and
subtraction, geometry and fractions. We have four units
of science study: Dinosaur Museum, Science in the
Kitchen, The Great Outdoors and Show Time! In
handwriting, students learn to legibly write numerals
and the letters in the lowercase and uppercase
manuscript and cursive alphabet.
Third
Grade
In
the third grade, our religion studies focus on
understanding the key concepts of faith, such as Law,
Gospel, confession, repentance, forgiveness and grace.
Selected, sequential Bible stories are read that span
Biblical history. In social studies, students learn about
communities, focusing on our own community, Danbury, and
how our community compares to those around the world.
Students explore government on the local, county, state and
national levels. Students discuss the use of natural
resources, farming, mining and port communities. In math,
students review basic addition and subtraction facts, and
progress to addition and subtraction of four-digit numbers.
Multiplication and division by one-digit numbers and
progress into double digits is learned. Students also
explore geometry, fractions and measurement. The science
curriculum focuses on life cycles of plants and animals,
the sun, moon and stars, energy, the Earth’s water and the
role of living things. Students continue to develop cursive
writing skills and improve legibility. Students learn about
parts of grammar, and an emphasis is placed on correctly
written English sentences and paragraphs. The reading
curriculum is based on the Balanced Literacy approach,
which includes the skills students need in order to be
successful readers. Reading focuses on choosing books that
are appropriate for each student’s reading level, learning
literary elements, fiction and non-fiction texts, poetry
and author studies. Students are encouraged to read
independently for enjoyment. In spelling/vocabulary,
students learn new vocabulary words and their spellings an
meanings, root words, use of context clues and focus on
correctly spelling words in written work. In writing,
students focus on the proper stages of the writing process,
editing their work and publishing their writing pieces.
Various styles of writing are taught.
Fourth
Grade
Fourth-graders'
religion studies include learning to pray regularly, and
finding ways to express praise and thankfulness to God
for his many gifts. In the social studies curriculum,
students learn about North America's first explorers,
natural U.S. boundaries, precipitation, U.S. geography,
latitude and longitude, and the form of government in
the United States . Math studies focus on reading and
writing numbers with up to 9 digits, adding a column of
three or more numbers, multiplying 3-digit by 2-digit
numbers, multiplying 4-digit by 1-digit numbers, telling
time to the minute, reading and writing decimals, and
more. In language, students learn to identify and write
complete sentences with proper capitalization and
punctuation, to identify parts of speech, to define and
use similes and metaphors, and to write a poem. Students
increase their vocabulary, spelling abilities and
reading comprehension skills, and master cursive
writing. The science curriculum focuses on the uses of
plants, the process by which plants make food, the
characteristics of oceans and estuaries, how fossils
were formed, static electricity and other topics.
Fifth-Sixth
Grades
Students in the fifth and sixth grades
study the lives of Old Testament prophets and the birth,
death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in religion
classes. Our math curriculum covers all whole number
operations as well as fractions, graphing, decimals and
percentages. The sixth grade also covers integers and
equations. Our science curriculum, covering life
science, earth science and physical science, includes
many hands-on activities and experiments. Students read
Current Health, a monthly publication about health
issues that pertain to 10- to 12-year-olds.
Fifth-graders also participate in the DARE program. The
English/Language Arts program includes spelling,
grammar, writing and reading. Students read a variety of
different types of literature, including newspaper and
magazine articles, poetry, novels and folk tales. For
current events we read Scholastic magazines and the
Danbury News-Times. Two basic social-studies curricula
are studied within the two-year span: American history
from the explorers to the present day, and the ancient
and medieval world.
Seventh
Grade
Seventh-grade students at Immanuel
Lutheran study the Old Testament and church history in
religion class. Pre-Algebra is the math focus, while the
science curriculum focuses on physical science. World
geography is emphasized in social studies. The English
curriculum advances students' knowledge of grammar and
composition. We study and discuss the great works of
Western literature from a Christian world view.
Eighth
Grade
The eighth-grade curriculum includes a
focus on the New Testament and current issues in religion
class. Students study Algebra I in math and life science in
science. The social studies curriculum focuses on American
history. Students advance in their grammar and composition
skills in English class, and study and discuss the great
works of Western literature from a Christian world view.
Middle School Science
(grades 5-8)
Mrs. Lutz
Our
science program for the middle school is based on
Connecticut Science Standards, as well as National Science
Standards. We use many different books and online sources
for learning, but we frame our studies around the Prentice
Hall Science Explorer Series, Holt Science and Technology,
and the Concordia Edition of Science Discovery Works.
Students have 5 classes of science each week and one lab.
Each grade has 9 units of study throughout the year. Six
units focus on core content in the three branches of
science—life science, physical science, and earth/space
science. Three additional units widen this perspective to
include the history and nature of science, science and
technology in society, and science in personal and social
perspectives. Additional “big” projects this year include a
“Survivor Island” mini-fair, an “Invention Convention,” a
cross-curricular study of trains, and a science fair.
K-8
Technology
Mrs. Lutz
Our technology program for grades K-8 integrates classroom
studies with computer skills. Students complete projects
using word processors, spreadsheets, slide shows, and
multimedia (drawing, audio, and video). Highlights this
year have included name/face matching (kindergarten),
tangrams and environmental print (grade 1), turtle
calendars (grade 2), energy and weather experiments and
reports (grades 3 and 4), an online Olympics competition
(grades 5 and 6), and video newscasts of current science
issues (grades 7 and 8). Students receive one technology
class each week. In addition, students practice typing at
home using several online courses.
Religion
Childrens Religion is an integral part of our school day at
Immanuel Lutheran. Each grade has a set course of study
using the appropriate grade-level "Voyages" book series,
published by Concordia Publishing Company, in conjunction
with the Bible. Christian teaching is reinforced through
scripture readings, books, videos and workbooks.
Students attend chapel at Immanuel Lutheran Church for one
half-hour every Wednesday morning. During chapel, the
pastor, principal or teachers use everyday examples to
present Bible readings and talk to the students about how
they should live through the teachings of God.
Christian teachings are also reinforced daily in special
assemblies and other activities.