Primary School

Primary School Program

OUR FOCUS

The St. Joseph Academy Primary School curriculum helps students develop the foundational knowledge, learning skills and personality traits to prepare them for success in school and beyond. We nurture the innate curiosity, wonder and desire to learn in each child.

Our curriculum offers an academically challenging primary school program to build lifelong learners and problem solvers. With small classes and a high degree of personal attention and differentiated learning, students will be introduced to a broad spectrum of academic experiences at a young age.

In our child-centered environment, our teachers develop the intellectual, emotional, and spiritual aspects of each student. The curriculum encourages students to develop independence, creativity, problem-solving abilities, perseverance, and confidence as they discover their unique sense of self.

The primary school program curriculum also focuses on developing science-based literacy skills and strategies that students need to be successful.

To be proficient in literacy means not only having the ability to read, write, speak, and listen, but to also have the capacity to apply these skills effectively to communicate, problem-solve, analyze, and think critically about the world in which we live.

As they complete their Primary School years, students will have begun to see themselves as capable individuals who use their talents and skills for the good of others, ready to excel in Intermediate School and beyond.

CORE PROGRAM COMPONENTS

LITERACY PROGRAM

Our literacy curriculum incorporates the foundational skills of reading, writing, speaking, and listening. It consists of the following foundational elements:

Phonological awareness
Phonemic awareness
Phonics
Building background knowledge
Oral language development
Vocabulary building
Instruction in writing
Instruction in comprehension
Reading fluency

Amplify’s Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) is a comprehensive early literacy curriculum, grounded in science-based literacy practices.

Amplify CKLA PreK is designed to prepare young children academically, socially, and emotionally for later reading success by building foundational language and literacy skills.
Amplify’s CKLA is modeled after proven research in early literacy that supports a two-strand approach to literacy instruction in the early years. Students in Grades K–2 complete one lesson per day that builds foundational reading skills in the Skills Strand, and one lesson per day that builds background knowledge in the Knowledge Strand. The content knowledge is sequenced together with research-based foundational skills so that students develop the early literacy skills necessary to help them become confident readers, as well as build the context to understand what they’re reading.
In Grades 3–5, lessons combine skills and knowledge with increasingly complex texts, close reading, and a greater emphasis on writing. Students start to use their skills to go on their own independent reading adventures, further opening up their worlds.

SCIENCE PROGRAM

Our elementary school’s science program is based upon the Department of Public Instruction’s science standards and Discover Education’s Mystery Science curriculum. Students learn to apply scientific thinking to real-world problems through hands-on, inquiry-based learning. They are engaged in activities which help them make sense of phenomena, develop critical thinking skills, and actively participate in scientific conversations. Our goal is for all students to appreciate the wonder of science, make informed decisions, and be prepared for their future science education.

Our science program emphasizes the following components:

Active student engagement: Students are the ones doing the thinking as they investigate scientific phenomena, analyze data, develop models, and design solutions with teacher support.
Skill development: Students develop skills like communication, organization, collaboration, research, and the ability to form reasoned opinions based upon evidence, which are applicable to many aspects of life.
Real-world connections: The learning is connected to students’ communities and lives with a focus on using science to solve local and global challenges.
Appreciation for science: Students begin to cultivate an appreciation for the beauty and wonder of science, and they continue learning about it outside of the classroom and school.
Multilingual resources: Students will have access to multilingual resources throughout science units so that all students can access the content

MATH PROGRAM iReady CLASSROOM

Our mathematics curriculum is i-Ready Mathematics which is a collection of high-quality instructional resources and materials. These tools provide rigorous and motivating mathematics instruction that

Engages students of all levels and background
Motivates students to persist in skill building
Provides scaffolded support that meets the needs of all students
Creates personal learning pathways for each student in i-Ready Personalized Instruction
Connects to i-Ready Diagnostic so that classroom teachers can make informed instructional decisions to best meet the needs of their students

At the early primary grades (K–2), the focus is largely on the areas of number and operations in base ten and algebraic thinking. This expands to a focus on fractions later in elementary school. The K-5 mathematics content provides the groundwork for the study of ratios, proportional reasoning, the number system, expressions and equations, and functions at the 6-8 grade level.

This means focusing deeply on the major work of each grade as follows:

In grades K–2: Concepts, skills, and problem solving related to addition and subtraction ●
In grades 3–5: Concepts, skills, and problem solving related to multiplication and division of whole numbers and fractions

SOCIAL STUDIES PROGRAM

Our primary school social studies curriculum is teacher-created based upon the Department of Public Instruction’s social studies and civics standards. Units align with grade level content from the literacy curriculum.

Through primary school social studies content, our students develop foundational understandings of the ideas and values of our democratic republic as they begin to apply the skills of inquiry, collaboration, decision making, and problem solving.

KINDERGARTDEN (K4 & K5)

LITERACY

In Kindergarten, the focus of literacy instruction is to develop the foundational skills needed for beginning readers and writers to develop and grow. Students learn to identify letters and their corresponding sounds, blend those letters to form and read words, sentences, paragraphs, and books.

MATHEMATICS

A few of the math curriculum components students will learn throughout Kindergarten are:

Count by 1s to 100; count by 2s, 5s and 10s and count back by 1s.
Use manipulatives, number lines, and mental arithmetic to solve problems involving the addition and subtraction of single-digit whole numbers.
Identify pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters and dollar bills, as well as describing temperature using appropriate vocabulary such as hot, warm and cold.
Identify solid figures including circles, triangles, squares, rectangles, spheres and cubes.

FIRST GRADE

LITERACY

Literacy instruction for first grade students builds on the foundational skills learned in Kindergarten, and expands into broader concepts of reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Teachers and students in first grade work to develop communication skills through focused reading experiences, meaningful writing activities, and opportunities to understand and explain their thinking through listening and speaking.

MATHEMATICS

A few of the math curriculum components students will learn throughout first grade are:

Count by 1s, 2s, 5s and 10s past 100.
Use manipulatives and drawings to model halves, thirds, and fourths as equal parts.
Use manipulatives, number grids, tally marks, mental arithmetic, and calculators to solve problems involving the addition and subtraction of 1-digit whole numbers with 1- or 2-digit whole numbers.
Compare weight and length using nonstandard tools and techniques; measure length with standard measuring tools.

SECOND GRADE

LITERACY

In second grade, literacy instruction continues to build basic literacy skills, develops more wide-ranging strategies for comprehension in reading, and extends into different purposes for writing, speaking, and listening. Every day, teachers and students engage in differentiated guided reading opportunities, and shared reading and writing activities connected to content area topics.

MATHEMATICS

A few of the math curriculum components students will learn throughout second grade are:

Count by 1s, 2s, 5s and 10s, 25s and 100s past 1,000.
Recognize numbers as odd or even.
Use manipulatives, number grids, tally marks, mental arithmetic, paper & pencil, and calculators to solve problems involving the addition and subtraction of multi digit whole numbers.
Estimate length with and without tools; measure length to the nearest inch and centimeter.
Read, write, and explain expressions and number sentences using the symbols +,-, =, >, and <.

THIRD GRADE

LITERACY

Students in third grade begin the transition from learning to read, to reading to learn. Literacy instruction reinforces the basic literacy skills students have learned and developed from kindergarten through second grade. Third grade literacy instruction seeks to deepen students’ understanding and use of comprehension strategies like making connections and inferences, identifying important information, summarizing, and synthesizing what they read. In writing, they move beyond writing about themselves and begin to write in multiple genres, with a variety of audiences, for varied purposes.

MATHEMATICS

A few of the math curriculum components students will learn throughout third grade are:

Read and write whole numbers up to 1,000,000; read, write, and model with manipulatives decimals through hundredths.
Use arrays, mental arithmetic, paper and-pencil algorithms and models, and calculators to solve problems involving the multiplication of 2- and 3-digit whole numbers by 1-digit whole numbers.
Describe relationships among inches, feet, and yards; describe relationships between minutes in an hour, hours in a day, days in a week.
Identify and draw points, intersecting and parallel line segments and lines, rays, and right angles.
Read, write, and explain number sentences using the symbols +,-,x, ˆ, =, >, and <.

ADDITIONAL PRIMARY SCHOOL PROGRAMS INFORMATION

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

The Primary Physical Education class focus is for all students to have the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully participate in movement activities and healthy practices now and in the future. It is also important that students develop appropriate sportsmanship and social skills necessary to successfully participate in small and large groups. When students learn to enjoy a variety of movement and healthy practices now they are more likely to continue these practices for their lifetime.

ART

Art is a universal language, a powerful tool for communicating ideas, expressing feelings, and recording history. Our young students learn by: looking at art, thinking about art, responding to art, and creating art. Students work collaboratively, sharing ideas and experiences. They learn to respect the different ways others think, work, and express themselves.

LIBRARY

Our fully stocked library gives our students the ability to read and explore during their time in the library and at home. Students are able to check out books to read when they are outside of school.

TECHNOLOGY/MEDIA LITERACY

Technology is everywhere, and we believe it is critical that your child become comfortable and experienced using a variety of technology tools. Students in the primary school program will learn how to navigate and save on the computer desktop. They will also be developing keyboarding skills and utilizing numerous software and Internet based applications in word processing, research, curriculum enhancement and multimedia presentations.

Through Common Sense Media’s Digital Literacy and Well-Being Curriculum, students will explore the digital challenges they face every day as well as the offline skills they need to manage them.

MUSIC

St. Joseph Academy provides music classes for all age levels. Music activities include singing and performing, moving to music, playing classroom instruments, listening and analyzing music, learning music notation, experiencing music from other cultures, singing folk melodies, and creating/composing. All students in the primary school program, with their classes, perform in both a Winter and Spring concert.

FAITH FORMATION

Our students participate in faith formation activities on a weekly basis. Our K4/K5 curriculum is Stories of God’s Love which focuses on age-appropriate Bible stories from the Old and New Testaments; each followed the next week by a contemporary story related to the previous lesson’s Bible story. Students also learn about eight seasonal themes that introduce and explore seasons, holy days, and holidays. Be My Disciples is the curriculum for grades 1–3. The curriculum focuses on virtues, values, habits, and spiritual gifts that help children grow as disciples. Students also examine the difference the Church has made, and still makes, in the lives of Christians and in the world.