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
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
Each grade will concentrate on one branch of science. Grade
6 will focus on life science, grade 7 on physical science,
and grade 8 on earth science. This will enable students to
“dive deep” while making good use of our principle text
resource, the Holt Science
& Technology series.
Our learning units align with standards established by the
state of Connecticut. This helps to “smooth the ride” for
students entering our program from the public schools.
Also, this ensures that children are receiving a thorough
grounding in science that will prepare them for high school
and beyond in public, private, or parochial school
settings.
This year, in cooperation with Danbury public schools, we
will incorporate new thinking into the way we teach
science. Science educators nationwide are embracing a STEM
initiative that combines learning in Science,
Technology,
Engineering,
and Mathematics.
The long term purpose of STEM programs is to prepare our
young people to be effective problem solvers in a worldwide
workforce. Read more about STEM at
http://www.hsalliance.org/stem/index.asp#NatlInitiatives.
Science class this year will include guided readings, labs,
hands-on activities, research projects, current events,
structured inquiries, and more. Student will learn by
reading and by doing. Students as thinkers will learn from
what others have discovered, and also from what they
discover for themselves. The scientist Isaac Newton
recognized this duality when he said, “If I have seen
further it is only be standing on the shoulders of giants.”
We look forward to an enjoyable year of science that builds
on the past and aims for the future.
K-8 Technology Computer
Lab
Mrs. Lutz
Our
classrooms are equipped with audiovisual equipment and
Internet access.
In addition, each student, from pre-Kindergarten to grade
8, receives instruction once a week in a lab setting.
Our lab program is based on standards supported by the
Connecticut Commission for Educational Technology and by
the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Our tools in the lab
include IBM-style personal computers with Internet access,
office programs, programs on CD, and various input and
output devices. Teachers collaborate to design computer
projects that extend classroom learning.
In the lab, students learn the following:
- how to operate technology equipment. Keyboarding skill is an important part of this process.
- how to practice responsible use of technology, especially online.
- how to create multimedia products like reports, newsletters, and slide shows.
- how to collaborate with others using telecommunications.
- how to conduct effective and accurate research.
- how to organize and analyze information both to solve problems and to present ideas for an audience.
Religion
Children’s 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.