Curriculum

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Holy Spirit School offers a full-day kindergarten that includes instruction in Religion, Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies and Related Arts classes.

Parents are asked to check their child’s backpack daily for information from the teacher. Parents are also asked to ready daily with their child.

Religion:  The primary focus is on prayer, learning about God, Bible stories and Christian treatment of others.

Reading/Language Arts:  Students are introduced to the skills of reading, writing and listening through the use of the letter books. Letters, sounds, sight words, decoding skills, listening, and writing are all a part of the program. Students move through a series of individual books based on their skill levels.

Mathematics:  Concepts to be taught include sorting and classifying, patterns, graphing, exploring numbers to 100, shapes, measurement, time and money, addition and subtraction.

Social Studies and Science:  Monthly themes are established and then integrated throughout the day.  Themes include seasons, animals, safety, plants, maps, presidents, etc.

Resource Classes:  Kindergarten students have class once each week for music, art, library, computer, PE, and Spanish.

Reading and Math skills are considered to be the most important areas for instruction in grade one.  A considerable amount of time is spent in the language arts area addressing phonics, reading, decoding, writing mechanics, vocabulary development and comprehension.

Parents are asked to read with their child daily and to review basic addition and subtraction facts.

Religion: The focus of the religion curriculum is Jesus and His teachings. Students will learn how Jesus expects us to relate to each other and our world. Major themes in first-grade religion are saints, creation, prayer, and participation during Mass.

Reading/Language Arts: This program links reading, spelling, social studies, science, writing, and phonics together. Lists of sight words are sent home to be reviewed by the parent with the child.

Spelling tests start at the beginning of the school year. Phonics instruction will focus on the beginning, middle, and ending sounds and various blends. Students will be doing creative writing and work in small groups on various skills during Reader’s Workshop. Students will cover five reading themes over the course of the school year. The focus will be on building their sight word list and sounding out new words.

Mathematics: Topics covered include basic computations, place-value, time and money, measurement, and geometry with a concentration in the mastery of basic addition and subtraction facts.

Science and Social Studies:  The first-grade teachers work to incorporate Science and Social Studies on a rotating basis among the teachers.  Science includes plants, weather, life cycles, and energy.  Social studies units include presidents and historical symbols, map reading, and holidays.

Related Arts Classes: Students have class once each week for music, art, library, computer, PE, and Spanish.

Spanish:  Students continue with their vocabulary development while fine-tuning their skills in counting in Spanish.

Minds in Motion: Students in grades PreK through 2nd take part in the Minds in Motion maze program.  You can watch a video about the maze here: https://youtu.be/cW7rEzBje7o

Students in grade two should have approximately 20 minutes of homework each evening. Parents are encouraged to assist their children in practicing spelling words, learning basic math facts, and organizing their study space at home.

Religion:  Students prepare for the sacraments of Reconciliation and First Eucharist.  Students also learn about the parts of the liturgy and what it means to be a disciple.

Reading/Language Arts: Students incorporate spelling and phonics skills that correlate with the reading series.  Cursive is taught after the Christmas break.

English skills covered include nouns, subjects, predicates, complete sentences, run-on sentences, and punctuation.

Mathematics: Children learn about fractional representation, addition, and subtraction of two- and three-digit numbers, regrouping, problem-solving, money, patterns, and begin working on the concept of multiplication.

Social Studies: Students also study geography, great figures in American history, pioneer life, land and resources, and what life was like in the past.

Science: Students explore the concepts of plants, animals, land and water habitats, weather, earth changes over time, the solar system, and health.

Related Arts Classes: Students have class once each week for music, art, library, computer, PE, and Spanish.

Spanish:  Students begin learning more phrases using the vocabulary learned so far.  They will continue to increase their knowledge of numbers.

Minds in Motion: Students in grades PreK through 2nd take part in the Minds in Motion maze program.  You can watch a video about the maze here: https://youtu.be/cW7rEzBje7o

Overall, the curriculum is more complex than in previous years, going deeper into many subjects. A greater amount of material is covered at a faster pace requiring students to do more higher-level thinking.

Grade 3 students begin taking on more responsibility for organizing their materials, writing down assignments, and using study guides to prepare for tests.

Parents are asked to help their child develop routines at home that help them organize their work: a specific place and time to study and a place to put completed work. Parents are asked to assist their children with special projects, book reports, study guides for tests, and memorizing their multiplication tables.

Religion: Some of the topics studied include discipleship, Jesus’ mission, our membership in the parish, the saints, Mass, Reconciliation, Eucharist, Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter.

Language Arts: Students have reached the stage where they read to learn instead of learning to read.   The Language Arts program includes literature, comprehension, phonics, spelling, English/grammar, handwriting, creative writing, supplementary reading, oral presentations, and book reports. The writing focus progresses from writing good sentences to creating paragraphs.

Mathematics: There is a major focus on memorization of basic multiplication and division facts. Concepts taught are fact families, addition and subtraction of larger numbers, data and graphs, estimating, place-value, time, money, measurement, multiplication, division, geometry, fractions, and decimals.

Social Studies: The overall theme is community life. Other concepts taught are the democratic process, responsibilities of citizens, government, economic principles, needs and problems of communities, traditions and celebrations, and map and globe skills.

Science: Topics covered are kinds of landforms, use of natural resources, animal habitats, life cycle, solar system, heat, sound, and states of matter.

Related Arts Classes: Students have class once each week for music, art, library, computer, PE, and Spanish.

Spanish:  Students begin using their vocabulary in creating sentences.  Their vocabulary continues to grow.

The transition to 4thgrade is monumental.  Students at this grade level are expected to begin taking more responsibility for their own learning. Good time management and organization skills are important for students. They begin taking notes in class and using their notes to prepare for tests. Students are held more accountable for the completion of homework and classwork.  The average student at this level should have approximately 40 minutes of homework each night.

Parents are asked to review study guides with students and to assist with drill and practice of math facts as needed.

Religion: In Grade 4, the Beatitudes are presented and there is a study of their meaning and application in our daily lives. Study is centered around the Ten Commandments.

Reading/Language Arts: Students utilize the text that includes excerpts from children’s literature as well as reading chapter books.  Instruction continues to emphasize comprehension as well as learning about plot and other reading genres.  Students continue to improve their writing skills by creating more paragraph writing.

Mathematics: There is a focus on mastery of all math facts and exploration of fractions and decimals.  Students are involved in more problem-solving skills with real-life applications.  Some basic algebra skills are introduced.

Social Studies: Fourth graders study the regions of the United States, including how and why the states are grouped the way they are along with a student of Kentucky.

Science: Life Science, Earth Science, and Physical Science are all a part of the curriculum. Unit topics include plants, animals, rocks, weather, water cycle, space, matter, and energy.

Related Arts Classes: Students have class once each week for music, art, library, computer, PE, and Spanish.

Spanish:  Students begin learning basic regular verbs.  Vocabulary development is significant.

Subjects are more complex, going deeper into many subjects. The average student in grade 5 should have approximately 50 minutes of homework each night. Continued emphasis is placed on the student’s ownership of his/her own learning.  Alternative assessments become more common in 5thgrade, allowing for student preferences to match learning styles and strengths.

Religion:  Religion instruction in grade 5 includes the use of the Bible. The textbook includes a study of the liturgy, more in-depth study of all seven sacraments, and Christian values are encouraged through all lessons and activities.

Math: Concepts taught in 5th grade include: basic operations and whole number computation, decimals and fractions, word problems, geometry (plane and solid figures, symmetry, angles), linear and metric measurement, equalities and inequalities, data analysis in graphs and charts, and probability and percentages, with special emphasis on two-digit division.

Language Arts: Students build on skills and concepts taught in previous years, focusing on 5 major areas: reading, writing, mechanics, speaking, and listening/observing. Reading includes literature in all the genres, story elements, comprehension strategies, word analysis, and using reference materials. Fifth graders become more proficient writers by examining different literary forms/styles, purpose/audience, types of writing, and the writing process. Students learn proper forms, conventions, and styles (parts of speech, punctuation, spelling rules, etc.).

Science: Topics covered in fifth grade include: weather, matter, forces, plants and photosynthesis, body systems, wellness and disease prevention, rocks and fossils, environment and land use.  Science as inquiry (hands-on learning) is infused throughout the curriculum.

Social Studies:   The students study the geography and history of the Eastern Hemisphere.

Related Arts Classes: Students have class once each week for music, art, library, computer, PE, and Spanish.

Spanish:   Students continue to improve their vocabulary while beginning to learn how to write with adjectives.

Students in Grade six are beginning the transition into Middle School.  Organization and management of projects and assignments are critical for the students.  There is even greater responsibility and accountability for students to complete assignments.  More choice is provided to students as they encounter layered curriculum projects and assessments.  Homework should take approximately 60 minutes per night.

Religion: The sixth-grade religion program has a focus on Hebrew Scripture and moral development.  Students learn about the qualities of honesty, integrity, goodness and other virtues that give meaning to our individual faith life.

Reading/Language Arts: The students do several pieces of writing throughout the year. Students are guided through their research and learn how to use it to create reports.  They learn to record sources in MLA format and discuss plagiarism.  The Writing Process is used to help students develop their writing skills and to teach them to reflect on and evaluate their own work. Students read several types of literature, across a variety of genres. These books relate to history, social justice issues, theology, and government. The goals of the sixth-grade reading program support the development of successful readers and writers by inspiring and motivating children, developing proficiency in independent reading and writing, and helping students see how reading and writing can be mutually supportive.

Mathematics:  The major math topics include operations with whole numbers, fractions and decimals, geometry, measurement, consumerism, ratio, proportion, percent, and understanding integers with a focus on pre-algebraic concepts. Integrated throughout student work on these areas is a focus on problem-solving, statistics and probability, estimating, mathematical reasoning.  Problem-solving related to real-life situations are incorporated daily.

Social Studies:  Students study the geography and history of the Western Hemisphere.

Science:  Students will focus on Earth Science beginning with a geological history of Earth.  Their studies continue with the solar system, earthquakes, weather, and volcanoes. They also study interactions in the physical world such as matter in solution and acids, bases, and salts. Interactions in the living world include viruses and simple life, animal life, plant life, and ecology. Systemic interactions include the study of motion, ecosystems, waves, earthquakes, and volcanoes, and the Earth-Moon system.

Related Arts Classes:  Students participate in a weekly class of PE, music, art, and library.  Two times a week the students have Spanish class.

Seventh grade enters their second year of departmentalized classes.  Students are involved in doing more research for projects. Homework for the average student should take about 70 minutes per night.

Religion:  The focus of religious study in seventh grade is the New Testament. Students learn to relate the Bible and Liturgy to their everyday life. Values such as respect, caring, and compassion for others as well as respect for the diversity among us is emphasized. Lessons for daily living revolve around the question “What would Jesus want you to do?”. The use of film, discussion groups, and art are used to advance the goals of the curriculum.

Reading/Language Arts: There is an enormous focus on vocabulary development and use, writing, and reading of many types of literature.  The literature focuses on purpose, meaning, plot, etc.  Students engage in activities that require higher-order thinking skills.  Additionally, students are required to complete more outside reading assignments.

Mathematics: Seventh-grade math moves more deeply into the topics of geometry, ratio and proportion, percents, integers, the language and patterns of algebra, and probability.

Social Studies:   The focus of social studies is world cultures and ancient history.  The first four civilizations, Egypt, China, Mesopotamia, and India are covered followed by the classical Greek and Roman culture. The Middle-Ages in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia are studied, as well as the geography of each civilization, along with the development of government and economics.

Science:   Science in grade seven is focused on Life Science. This includes zoology, botany, microbiology, and ecology. They study specific living things: bacteria, viruses, cold- and warm-blooded organisms. Lab lessons using microscopes, dissections, and technology have students explore the characteristics of organisms.

Related Arts Classes: Students participate in a weekly class of PE, music, and art.  Twice a week the students have Spanish class.

Students are fine-tuning their study skills and becoming aware of their learning styles.  Strategies for how to study based on individual styles are shared with students. The average eighth-grader should be spending approximately 80 minutes per night on homework. Students continue to make choices for demonstrating mastery of subject matter through projects, layered curriculums, presentations, Tic Tac Toe assessments, and research.

Religion:  Students discuss what we believe as Catholic and why as part of their Confirmation preparation.  Service is also stressed as a part of the preparation.  The religion course of studies involves learning about Catholic morality, doctrine, and liturgy.

Reading/English: Students continue to improve their analytical skills through various writing assignments.  There is an emphasis placed on documenting sources using MLA format.  Literature consists of several novels read in class as well as assigned independent reading.  Vocabulary is covered in depth using a computer program called Membean.

Mathematics: All students take Algebra.  Those who meet Archdiocesan standards are working to achieve their high school credit for Algebra.

Social Studies:  American History is the focus of the eighth-grade curriculum with an emphasis on the colonization of the New World and the Revolutionary War era.

Science:   The focus of the science program is Physical Science with Earth science and Life sciences integrated throughout.

Related Arts Classes: Students participate in a weekly class of PE, music, and art.  The students have learned to utilize technology as a learning tool.