Kindergarten Curriculum St. Pascal Baylon Religion Philosophy At St. Pascal Baylon School, our Religion program will help lay a foundation for our students’ spiritual growth and knowledge of the Catholic faith. Through prayer, study, scripture, sacraments, liturgy experiences and service to others, the students will have opportunities to connect their faith to daily living. Our goal is for all students at St. Pascal Baylon School to grow in their understanding of: The teachings and lived traditions of the Catholic faith The celebration of the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, Reconciliation and Confirmation The Bible as it relates to everyday life The development of morals based on our Catholic faith The value of praying personally, communally and liturgically Their experience with the Church’s social teachings St. Pascal Baylon Language Arts Philosophy We believe that language is essential for learning. Effective oral and written communication enhances both personal and social development. The purpose of our language arts curriculum is to provide reading, writing, listening and speaking skills necessary to meet the demands of both schoolwork and daily life. St. Pascal Baylon Reading Philosophy At St. Pascal Baylon School we provide all students with the necessary skills to become successful and independent readers. Our reading curriculum focuses on providing students with the necessary reading skills such as decoding, comprehension, and thinking critically about what they read; lessons are taught whole group and in small settings. Our expectation is that reading skills are applied in all curriculum areas so as to foster in our students an understanding that reading is an essential tool for learning. We provide experiences with a variety of genre to encourage a lifelong love of reading. Reading Goals Kindergarten, First and Second Grade To develop competency in reading using the phonetic skills taught at that grade level To demonstrate emergent comprehension skills To communicate and express themselves through oral and written language To develop an appreciation and excitement for books through reading, listening and writing activities To apply reading skills to other curriculum areas To experience a variety of reading genre: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, fables and fairy tales St. Pascal Baylon Spelling Philosophy We believe in the importance of correct spelling in students’ daily work. The teachers will help the students understand the editing process as a means for identifying words that are spelled incorrectly. Spelling is taught through the Reading/Language Arts curriculum and emphasized throughout daily work. Our goals for the spelling program at St. Pascal Baylon School include: Consistent expectations of correct spelling in all content areas Emphasis on self-correction at appropriate grade levels Use of peer editing when appropriate St. Pascal Baylon Printing/Handwriting Philosophy The emphasis of the printing/handwriting program at St. Pascal Baylon School is focused on a balance between correct form and legibility. Our goals for the printing/handwriting program at St. Pascal Baylon School include: Consistent expectations regarding acceptable work Provide students with more activities related to transference A commitment to consistent practice Kindergarten: Introduction to letter formation using modern manuscript style St. Pascal Baylon Math Philosophy At St. Pascal Baylon we believe that every child can be successful at learning mathematics. We believe children learn best in an active environment in which they work together, think together, and communicate about the mathematics they are learning. A balance between exploration, computation, problem solving, and mathematics used in daily life will be the focus of our instruction. Each student will be able to understand mathematics by continuously building on the foundation of mathematical concepts and applications taught and experienced over time. Our goals for each student at St. Pascal Baylon School are… To become actively involved in the exploration and learning of mathematics concepts To apply problem solving skills to real life experiences To develop critical thinking skills through problem solving experiences To make connections and apply mathematics to their daily lives To think and communicate their ideas using mathematical language To develop analytical and logical reasoning skills To be prepared for a successful secondary school mathematical experience Mathematics Grade Level Scope and Sequence The following list outlines the major math concepts taught within the designated grade level(s): Kindergarten, First and Second Grade: Basic skills and concepts are reinforced through the use of hands on manipulatives and creative problem solving. Counting pattern, building and identification Place Value Addition and subtraction of one, two and three digit numbers to 1,000 Introduction to telling time Introduction to money Geometry – geometric shapes Basic Measurement Introduction to Data Collection (graphs, charts) Introduction to fractions and estimation Problem Solving St. Pascal Baylon Science Philosophy At St. Pascal Baylon School we believe that every child can be successful at learning science. Our curriculum focuses on the basic principles of physical, life, and earth sciences. We believe children learn best in an active environment in which they work together, think together, and communicate about the science they are learning. We strive to create a balance of instructional experiences using lecture, discussion, and a variety of exploration and hands-on activities. We hope students will gain an appreciation for science by applying these principles in their daily lives. In Kindergarten through Second Grade our goal for each student is to… Become actively involved in learning science through a thematic approach Experience science that is realistic, exciting, and connected to their daily lives Develop a desire to investigate the world around them using the 5 senses Have opportunities for hands-on exploration Think and communicate scientifically St. Pascal Baylon Social Studies Philosophy At St. Pascal Baylon School, our students will learn to be caring and responsible citizens. Students will be encouraged in their curiosity to explore the constantly changing world around them. Our curriculum focuses on the basic principles of History, Geography, and current issues in our world today. We believe children learn best in an active environment in which they work together, think together, and communicate about the world in which they are living. We strive to create a balance of instructional experiences using lecture, discussion, and a variety of exploration and interactive learning activities. In Kindergarten through Second Grade our goal for each student is to… Become actively involved in learning social studies through a thematic approach, including the study of current events Develop a desire to appreciate different cultures in our world past and present Have cross curricular experiences to enhance social studies learning Introduce map and globe skills St. Pascal Baylon Physical Education Philosophy At St. Pascal Baylon School our students will develop an understanding of the importance of physical education and how it relates to living a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Our students will develop physical and social skills as we focus on physical and health development in our program. They will work cooperatively in a learning environment in which unit and daily goals will be used to help students develop higher-level skills. At St. Pascal Baylon School we balance competition with other values gained from participation in sports. St. Pascal Baylon strives to create a program that is fun, challenging, promotes a positive self-image, and is safe for all of our students. In Kindergarten through First Grade our goal for each student is to… Perform and identify locomotor skills (skipping, jumping etc.) Demonstrate the importance of safety, getting along with others and good sportsmanship Develop and identify their individual space awareness Comprehend the rules of the activities presented in the curriculum St. Pascal Baylon School also as an athletic program with athletic policies. St. Pascal Baylon Library and Computer Philosophy At St. Pascal Baylon our students will develop an understanding of libraries, research, and the use of computers. We provide our student with access to quality literature and reference sources, in print and electronic formats. Our curriculum focuses on developing organizational and decision-making skills necessary for students to accomplish introductory research tasks. Our curriculum encourages both individual and group work using an interactive approach to learning. We believe that children learn best in an active learning environment. We try to connect the 21st Century Skills curriculum being taught in the classrooms with the curriculum being taught in both computer and library. The students will be able to access the appropriate resources and use research and computer skills to enhance their education beyond St. Pascal Baylon. Our goal for each student in the Kindergarten through Sixth Grade Library Curriculum is to… Develop introductory research skills through retrieval, interpretation, and evaluation of information by accessing reference material: print and software periodicals world wide web Understand the organization of St. Pascal Baylon’s collection (Dewey Decimal System) Reinforce an appreciation for literature and set a foundation for a lifelong love of learning Our goal for each student in the Kindergarten through Fifth Grade Computer/Technology Curriculum is to… Develop basic computer skills including: using a mouse, keyboard layout, saving work, and opening and closing programs. Develop basic skills to use an iPad Use typing tutorial to learn basic keyboarding skills Develop word processing skills including: creating documents, cutting, pasting, formatting, and adding original graphics to work Reinforce math, reading, and problem solving skills through the use of interactive software Demonstrate the ability to use multi-media software to create slide shows containing original graphics, word processing and sounds
