Grades1-3ACADEMICPROGRAMANDSYLLABUS
Grades 1-3 is a self-contained village, which provides a caring environment where children are encouraged to develop a deep love of learning and a respect for others. The Lower School
Curriculum builds the foundation for a child's learning habits and social skills. The low student-faculty ratio enables each child to receive a high level of individual attention. The faculty also works closely with one another to develop each child's talents and strengths. Learning levels are flexible, and special assistance is available to children who may need help in a specific area. By the time a child leaves the Lower School, she will have solid academic skills and responsible study habits.
GRADE1
Art:
The main objective in the first-grade classroom is to make students comfortable with experimentation and self-expression within the specific guidelines set out in each project. The students will begin to explore the use of line, shape, and composition. They will also examine the use of different art materials and techniques. There will be a minor focus on the development of problem-solving skills and small motor skills. The art room is a relaxed place to be. It is a room where wrong answers do not exist, and self-expression is of the utmost importance. With the wise freedom found in the art room and a pinch of some tender loving care, growth potential becomes the ultimate goal.
CreativeExpression:
Through exercises in the arts, students discover, nourish, and express their own unique creative abilities. First graders concentrate on their bodies and movement in space, welcoming music, movement, and dance to approach the basics of storytelling. Most sessions take place in the
outdoor classroom, providing space and a suitable environment for students to move freely Listening and observing are essential to these exercises. Creative Expression collaborates and reinforces other disciplines when possible. The process of creative enlightenment is a gentle experience promoting harmonious individual and group interaction, developing consideration, understanding of different cultures, different points of view, and appreciation of art in all forms.
Computer:
First graders are introduced to computers as a learning tool. The main focus throughout the year is to develop mouse and keyboard skills. Google Docs and Google Slides are used to aid instruction. They will be using Chromebooks this year; therefore, they will become familiar with accessing applications on the internet. By the third trimester, the students are introduced to programming concepts using the website: www.code.org. First grade students also spend a week going to our innovation space in the Junior High to do Maker Projects. By the end of the year, the goal is for the first graders to be more confident users of technology, so they are ready for more challenging work in second grade.
French:
The primary goal of this introductory course in first grade French is to foster a love of the French language and culture while exposing students to the different sounds of the target language. By introducing basic French vocabulary, students will learn basic communication skills while internalizing the importance of proper pronunciation to communicate better and exchange basic information about themselves and others. Listening for understanding and speaking correctly to communicate are some of the skills introduced and developed.
History:
First graders learn history using The Story of the World, History for the Classical Child. This series teaches history from the earliest nomads to the late Roman Empire chronologically using narratives. As the year progresses, the girls study the past and the historical figures that were a part of them. The girls work with maps and study geography related to the Earth. By the end of the year, we learn that we are part of a global community. The girls work with atlases and globes to study geography as it relates to the Earth.
LanguageArts:
Reading and writing are constantly focused on throughout the day at Carrollton. Reading and writing workshops drive the language arts program in first grade. When the girls arrive in first grade, they are exposed to a variety of literature from many different genres. Students study spelling patterns and sight words to help them become
fluent readers. They quickly begin to apply comprehension and phonetic skills while reading and writing. Reading and writing are weaved through all disciplines, and as their skills continue to develop, they become active learners and start reading for pleasure and information.
Library:
The Primary library provides an engaging program that instills a love of reading through weekly storytimes. The building of information literacy skills focuses on the Dewey Decimal system and ensures that students are exposed to literature that promotes self-discovery and self-direction. Special activities such as author visits, creative literature expression,and our annual book fair enhances the library program.
MandarinChinese:
The first grade students will learn basic Chinese vocabulary and simple structures with a primary focus on listening and speaking skills. Students will build a strong foundation in the fundamentals of speaking Chinese. Also, students will be introduced to different aspects of Chinese culture.
Mathematics:
First graders learn math is all around them. The mathematics program at Carrollton encourages the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills every day. Students explore number patterns and relationships and engage in hands-on activities.
Music:
In first grade, a music class emphasizes the essential recognition of music notation and rhythms. The students learn by singing, playing instruments, moving, listening, and creating music. First graders will study some of the orchestra's instruments to recognize a unique sound. In addition, the students will become familiar with great masterpieces of the Baroque era and study influential composers, including Bach and Handle. The first graders will prepare special programs throughout the year, including the Advent Prayer Service and the Spring Arts Showcase.
PhysicalEducation:
Physical Education in the first grade includes instruction and activities in swimming, physical fitness activities, locomotors, and fine and gross motor skill development. Skill development and lead-up games are introduced in basketball, soccer, and t-ball. Health and wellness are integrated throughout the year.
Religion:
Spiritual development is a constant theme at Carrollton. Children learn that God loves us as our Father and that Jesus came to tell us about God. We read about the life, death, and resurrection
of Christ while also learning about the role of the Holy Spirit in our community Students work to develop a personal relationship with God through prayer and worship.
Science:
Science is a time for inquiry. Children learn to ask questions and investigate science topics, including living organisms, air and weather, and balance and motion. Through experiments and observation, children learn about science as it relates to their lives.
Spanish:
The students will develop their oral and listening skills in Spanish, emphasizing reading and writing. They will be introduced to the primary language and grammar concepts such as vowel sounds and syllable sounds which make up the base of the Spanish language phonetics. The book Clan 7 Inicial, allows students to travel through the culture of Spain and learn how to communicate using everyday language. The use of digital technologies will enable students to have the opportunity to interact with different components of the language via web presentations, listening activities, as well as interactive games, and coming up to the digital board to either write or interact with the board in games. The oral component of the class is conducive to creating opportunities to use the language and to develop their communication skills in Spanish.
StudentDevelopment:
Student Development is our social-emotional learning class where First Grade students begin to learn the importance of values such as honesty, responsibility, kindness, respect, cooperation, and empathy The continuing development of self-esteem and the reinforcement of healthy behavior are stressed through the I Care Rules and The Cloud 9 World stories. This curriculum emphasizes peacemaking and conflict resolution skills necessary to support the development of conduct consistent with these values. In addition to conflict resolution skills, the following topics will be covered throughout the year: assertiveness skills, friendship skills, personal safety, bullying prevention, drug and alcohol prevention, cooperation, feelings, emotional regulation, and responsibility
GRADE2
Art:
Students have developed a stronger sense of self and thus can use their new found abilities to create artwork based on a broader range of experiences. The students begin confronting more varied compositional challenges and experimenting with design and composition principles. They begin to understand that art can communicate abstract thought and emotion. Art work now has a personal meaning as students learn how different cultures use art to express their individuality. They draw, sculpt, paint, print, and combine materials to create two and
three-dimensional artworks. Self-expression and connections between visual art, nature, daily life, other artists, and cultures are explored as students design and develop their artworks. The art room offers an excellent way to establish a collaborative work environment.
CreativeExpression:
Through exercises in the arts, students will be discovering, nourishing, and expressing their own unique creative abilities. Second grade will be introduced to the basics of choreography and storytelling through dance and acting. Props will be included. Most sessions will take place in the outdoor classroom, providing space and a suitable environment for students to move freely. Creative Expression will collaborate and reinforce other disciplines. The process of creative enlightenment is a gentle experience promoting harmonious individual and group interaction, developing consideration, understanding of different cultures, different points of view, and appreciation of art in all forms.
Computer:
In second grade, classes primarily focus on helping the students become more independent users of technology. Second graders have iPads during the school day and afternoon computer class to help them express their creativity. Google Suite of products will be used to type, create slideshows, and much more. Student projects focus on combining creativity and technology skills. The importance of internet safety is stressed throughout the year, as well as choosing appropriate search engines for research. After the second trimester, students learn programming concepts using code.org. It is recommended that students also practice their keyboarding skills for half an hour a week at home. These lessons can be found on www.learning.com. The goal for the end of second grade is to type 15 words per minute using proper posture and finger placement.
French: Students will continue to develop their oral expression skills. They will gradually begin to be exposed to the written language and sentence structures proper to the French language. They will continue to expand their vocabulary and learn how to integrate what they learn in their oral exchanges in the target language. Students will also be introduced to basic grammar concepts, such as distinguishing between feminine and masculine nouns and adjectives. Learning about French culture will enhance the student’s exposure to the language. It will make it relevant, providing the student's further motivation to learn, appreciate and enjoy their journey into the French language.
History:
The history program continues from first grade. We begin with the fall of the Roman Empire and continue up to the Renaissance. Assessment is measured through various methods, such as thinking maps. Map skills help visualize the world geographically.
LanguageArts:
The second grade reading program continues the development of basic reading skills: word attack, syllabication, context clues, phrasing, and oral reading. Conceptual learning at this level includes recall of facts, comprehension, predicting outcomes, and interpreting the material. We will be incorporating many different types of literature into the program, including fiction, non-fiction, biographies, and poetry. A primary focus will be independent reading for enjoyment and use of reading strategies such as building reading stamina, visualizing, inferring, summarizing, synthesizing, and the author’s purpose. Students will demonstrate their understanding and application of the strategies through student journals. The program focuses on writing clear, detailed sentences and simple paragraphs. Stories, poetry, personal narratives, and letters are written. Emphasis is placed on listening, speaking, and comprehension skills. Spelling, phonics, and grammar are integral parts of the daily curriculum. Spelling skills are practiced through weekly spelling words. Students are introduced to Thinking Maps to help them organize and visualize their thinking. These maps are extended into all other areas of the curriculum. The students are taught cursive writing in the second semester.
Library:
The Primary library provides an engaging program that instills a love of reading through weekly storytimes. The building of information literacy skills focuses on the Dewey Decimal system and ensures that students are exposed to literature that promotes self-discovery and self-direction.
MandarinChinese:
The second grade students will continue to develop their Chinese vocabulary and sentence structures. Listening and speaking skills are the primary focus of the class. The students will be trained to recognize and adequately use the four primary tones in speaking Chinese. The students will continue with Better Immersion which includes learning to write Chinese characters with proper strokes. The students will also learn to appreciate and respect the Chinese culture or any different cultures they encounter
Mathematics:
The students will learn math skills using hands-on activities and materials. The students will review and master essential addition and subtraction facts. Adding and subtracting within 100 will also be developed. They will work with time, place value, money, graphs, shapes, and measurement. Coupled with these skills, the students will practice problem-solving, logical reasoning, and higher-order thinking strategies. Word problem practice will be an ongoing focus throughout the year
Music:
Second grade music students will recognize the notes on the treble clef by singing, writing, and playing music written on the staff They will also begin to understand the duration of the notes rhythmically and experiment with rhythm through composition. Throughout the year, students will study the lives and works of various prominent composers, including Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. The students will learn and memorize music for special performances, including the Advent Prayer Service and the Spring Arts Showcase.
PhysicalEducation:
Physical Education in the second grade includes instruction and activities in swimming, physical fitness activities, locomotors, and fine and gross motor skill development. Skill development and lead-up games are introduced in basketball, soccer, and t-ball. Health and wellness are integrated throughout the year.
Religion:
The student will learn the meaning of God's activity in their lives. The concept of faith is explored. They understand that life in the Church flows from the Sacraments. In particular, the students study the Sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, and the Eucharist. The Rosary is introduced. The school provides for the reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the winter, and First Eucharist is celebrated soon after at St. Hugh Catholic Church.
Science:
Hands-on activities will help the students learn about pebbles, sand and silt, and sound and butterflies. Science Technology Engineering Math (STEM) is incorporated into science by learning about pollination and constructing hand pollinators. The students will observe, record, measure, and draw conclusions from explorations throughout the science units.
Spanish:
The students will develop their oral and listening skills in Spanish, emphasizing reading and writing. Basic sentence structure and grammar concepts will be introduced at this level. The book Clan 7 Volume One continues its trip to Spain and how to communicate using everyday language. The use of digital technologies allows students to have the opportunity to interact with different components of the language via web presentations, listening activities, as well as interactive games and coming up to the digital board to either write or interact with the board in games. The oral component of the class is conducive to creating opportunities to use the language and to develop their communication skills in Spanish.
StudentDevelopment:
Student Development is our social-emotional learning class where second graders continue to learn, discover, and practice the skills and values introduced in Montessori and first grade.
Second graders will continue to have lessons from Peacemaking Skills and the Cloud 9 World stories. Students are encouraged to practice their peacemaking and conflict resolution skills inside and outside the classroom. In addition to conflict resolution skills, the following topics are discussed throughout the year: respect, empathy, kindness, responsibility, cooperation, feelings, emotional regulation, problem-solving, assertiveness, personal safety, friendship skills, bullying prevention, and drug and alcohol prevention.
GRADE3
Art:
Teaching art from grades one through three is a sequential process. Having had a formidable background in grades one, two, and three, third graders have reinforced numerous basic skills and are now prepared to expand on the use of the principles of art; specifically their drawing, painting, and three-dimensional skills using different media, techniques, and processes to communicate ideas. Grade three art students will describe their response to specific works of art using an expanded visual arts vocabulary. In addition, third grade art students will collaborate with their core teachers to create interdisciplinary art projects that weave together concepts from science, computer, music, and language arts. These projects foster cooperation and compromise.
CreativeExpression:
Through exercises in the arts, students will be discovering, nourishing, and expressing their own unique creative abilities. The third grade will be given texts to perform, understanding the basics of storytelling through various characters, places, and theatrical elements such as props and scenery. Most sessions will take place in the outdoor classroom, providing space and a suitable environment for students to move freely. Listening and observing are essential to these exercises. Creative Expression will collaborate and reinforce other disciplines when possible. The process of creative enlightenment is a gentle experience promoting harmonious individual and group interaction, developing consideration, understanding of different cultures, different points of view, and appreciation of art in all forms.
Music:
The third grade music classes combine listening to music, studying composers, instrumental playing, and singing. Throughout the year, students will explore several classical pieces of music to learn the historical significance of these artworks. In the third grade, students will devote much of their music time to learning to read music while playing the recorder. With this instrumental experience, the class can put their music reading skills into action. The students will also prepare special performances throughout the year, including the Advent Prayer Service and Spring Arts Showcase.
Computer:
Third grade students develop more advanced computer skills using the Google Suite products. They also learn to be creative using different apps like Adobe Spark Page. Through videos, activities, and lectures, they are taught what it means to be a Digital Citizen. This year they are expected to take care of their new Chromebooks and properly put them away Students reinforce their Science, Math, Technology, and Engineering skills by learning to build and program an autonomous robot, coded using Scratch and www.code.org tutorials, using JavaScript to draw a house, and applying the Engineering Design Process to find solutions to real-life problems. Students also spend three days per trimester going to the Innovation Space in the Junior High campus to build robots and two days in our Maker Space on Barat campus learning how to hammer, drill and use wood to create things. It is recommended that students also practice their keyboarding skills for half an hour a week at home. These lessons can be found on www.learning.com. At the end of third grade, the goal is to type 25 words per minute using proper posture and finger placement.
French:
The students will further acquire french vocabulary to continue developing their communication skills; reading and writing skills will continue to be developed. The introduction of French sentence structures, simple grammar structures, and verb conjugations will allow students to use their critical thinking skills to build semantic bridges between their first language and any other language they might know. The oral component of this class will facilitate and foster effective communication in the target language.
History:
The Story of the World Volume 3 is a chronological narrative of history. It begins with Charles V, and finishes with the California Gold Rush. The students have an opportunity to learn about the stories of different leaders and their countries. They understand why other governments and countries succeed or fail and discuss the pros and cons of various rulers and historical events. Students also develop map skills while studying the geography of different regions.
LanguageArts:
The Reading Workshop provides students with the continuing development of technical reading skills, versatility in word attack methods, and practice understanding context clues. Students also continue to develop comprehension skills through exercises in paragraph interpretations, making references, predictions, and drawing conclusions. This is supported by weekly visits to the library and classroom libraries which enhance and support all reading levels. Reading various classroom novels provides additional materials for reading for pleasure, vocabulary, and contextual reading. Grammar and Spelling are developed for effective writing. The Writing Workshop will develop their paragraph writing and short story skills and support increased writing stamina. Students will understand the writing process through daily writing and teacher conferencing. Continued work is done with the skills for listening and speaking.
Library:
The Primary library provides an engaging program that instills a love of reading through weekly storytimes. The building of information literacy skills focuses on the Dewey Decimal system and ensures that students are exposed to literature that promotes self-discovery and self-direction.
MandarinChinese:
The third grade students will continue developing listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Class discussions and activities will focus on increasing the students' communication skills. They will learn to enjoy Chinese culture. The students will continue using a web-based curriculum as their primary resource.
Mathematics:
The math program incorporates a balance of instruction throughout. The program includes a balanced approach to mathematics by: investigating concepts and building conceptual understanding; developing, reinforcing, and mastering computational and procedural skills; and applying mathematics to problem-solving situations. Online support is available, providing students and parents with additional support. Programs offer opportunities to apply math skills and solve problems using visual thinking, logical reasoning, number sense, and algebra. Multiplication skills are developed.
PhysicalEducation:
Physical Education in the third grade includes instruction and activities in swimming, physical fitness activities, locomotors, and fine and gross motor skill development. Skill development and lead-up games are introduced in basketball, soccer, and t-ball. Health and wellness are integrated throughout the year.
Religion:
Students learn the guidelines for Christian living through the study of Jesus and his teachings. Particular emphasis is given to studying the Apostles Creed, the Mass, and Church leadership. Students learn about the life of Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, patron of the school, and Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat. They are encouraged to investigate how the Sacred Heart Goals apply to their everyday lives.
Science:
The third grade science is about teaching the girls to think like scientists to explore, make a hypothesis, test it, and understand the use of controls and variables. The units used to understand these concepts are lifting heavy things, rocks, minerals, and water
Spanish: SpanishI
The students continue developing their oral and listening skills and enhancing their reading and writing abilities. The use of digital technology allows the students to have the opportunity to interact with different components of the language via web presentations, listening activities as well as interactive games. Reading comprehension and active class discussions bring new light to learning a second language. Sentence structure and its components, punctuation, and more advanced grammar are introduced at this level. The oral piece of the class creates opportunities to use the language and develop their communication skills in Spanish.
SpanishII
The students continue to develop their writing, listening, speaking, and reading skills in the target language through multiple activities. They start to write simple and participate in class discussions. They put into practice their ability to ask and answer questions. Basic grammar and verb conjugations in the present, past, and future tenses are introduced and developed, providing the students with the knowledge to continue expanding their communication skills in Spanish.
StudentDevelopment:
The third grade students develop knowledge and skills to resolve conflicts, communicate effectively, build self-esteem, and develop empathy Students are expected to practice their peacemaking and conflict resolution skills inside and outside the classroom. Stories, role-playing, and small group activities are essential in the curriculum. The third graders will continue to have lessons from Peacemaking Skills and the Cloud 9 World stories. The following topics taught in first and second grade are reinforced in third grade: cooperation, respect, kindness, empathy, feelings, emotional regulation, problem-solving, assertiveness skills, friendship skills, responsibility, personal safety, bullying prevention, and drug and alcohol prevention.