Subject Area Curriculum

Reading-Writing-Language Arts

Click on the picture above for a program overview.

MyView Literacy is a comprehensive, interactive literacy program that provides a balanced approach to teaching reading, writing, speaking, listening, and viewing using a collection of authentic reading texts and collaborative writing workshops. Connected Reading and Writing Workshops focus on teaching the critical skills and strategies students need to be highly competent thinkers, readers, and writers ready for college and career.

Spelling lessons and tests will be provided weekly to practice grade level words and phonetic concepts.

Decodable Reading Passages will be given to students to practice current phonetic, sight word, and comprehension lessons.

Students will be given online instructions for home and school practice.

St. Luke’s kindergarten language arts curriculum emphasizes strong, research-based resources called the Science of Reading (SOR).  This early literacy instruction includes: phonological awareness, phonics and word recognition, fluency, vocabulary and oral language comprehension, and text comprehension. The science of reading is the converging evidence of what matters and what works in literacy instruction, organized around models that describe how and why.

 

Math

We are so blessed to acquire the Zearn Math Program.  It is a paper, small group, online-based system.  Students will be given daily opportunities to learn and practice skills with a teacher in a small group, online with immediate response and adjustment to instruction, and paper/pencil practice to show their knowledge.

Zearn follows the concrete to pictorial to abstract approach, which teaches children to understand math concepts in an intuitive and tangible way. All students build a deep and sustainable understanding of math when they learn with this flexible and rich pedagogical approach.

During independent learning and in small groups with their teacher, students receive safe, in-the-moment feedback that precisely addresses areas of misconception. When students learn in this type of feedback-rich and supportive environment, they become resilient, self-directed learners and can love learning math.

Students will be engaged in fact fluency practice with an effective program called Reflex Math.  Teachers will provide families with information and student progress.

Parents can support math learning with fact practice, IXL online lessons, and daily real-life math experiences.

Science

Click on the pictures below to find out more about these science resources.

 

Nebraska’s standards for science will guide our learning at each grade level.  We will use resources from:  Scholastic Newspaper, Mystery Science, Brain Pop, Generation Genius, and various current materials.

Kindergarten	First Grade	Second Grade	Third Grade	Fourth Grade	Fifth Grade
Forces	Light/Sound Waves	Properties of Matter	Motion and Stability	Waves and Information	Properties of Matter
Weather and Climate	Structure Function of  Living Things	Relationships in Ecosystems	Relationships in Ecosystems	Energy Conservation Transfer	Organisms and Ecosystems
Animal/Plant Relationships	Systems in Space	Earth’s Systems	Life Cycles and Traits	Information Processing	Space Systems
Health and Nutrition	Health and Nutrition	Health and Nutrition	Weather and Climate	Earth’s Systems	Earth’s Systems
			Health and Nutrition	Health and Nutrition	Health and Nutrition

 

Social Studies

Students will learn information from four major categories:  Civics, Economics, Geography, and History.  We will use resources from:  Scholastic Newspaper, Current Event News, Social Studies Teacher Prepared Units, and various online materials.

Religion

Religious education and formation are provided daily.  Students attend Mass as a school community on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  Attentiveness and participation during Mass is expected and frequent reception of the Eucharist is encouraged.  Religious instruction, prayers at the beginning and end of each day, at lunch time, and other opportune times is a daily practice; integrated value formation is fostered daily throughout the curriculum.  Special worship celebrations are provided for the children and families throughout the year.

St. Luke’s School has acquired a program called “Theology of the Body”  Theology of the Body curriculum has been enriching academic communities and inspiring a generation of young saints.  This K-5 version is a literature-based approach which looks at what it means to be human: male or female, how to live as a gift to others, and what is means to have heaven as our ultimate destiny.

We are using Gospel Weeklies from Pflaum Faith Formation Program for Pre-K, K, 1^st, 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th grades.  Videos provide lessons in relation to the Sunday Gospel.  Songs and seasonal activities and worksheets are available to the teachers.  Online resources, including assessments to test understanding will be conducted.  The Pflaum faith formation program combines a complete doctrinal catechesis with the liturgical life of the Church.

2^nd grade children will grow in the sacramental life of the Church.  First Holy Communion and Reconciliation are the emphasis.  The program from Dynamic Catholic called “Blessed” is used with supplemental video episodes and workbooks.  84 episodes engage the students with a sense of wonder and adventure into the story of Jesus and the life-giving truths of His Church.

The students in 4^th and 5^th grade will receive a supplemental study on Scripture.  The overall goal is to give the students a hunger for reading Scripture and an understanding of how Scripture explains to us the Salvation we have in Jesus Christ.

If a Catholic student has missed a sacramental year, parents will need to contact St. Luke’s Church to address this situation.  Your child may be able to join the sacramental group in the school or a sacramental program with the Director of Religious Education.

Physical Education

Physical education classes include a variety of activities both in the church basement and outdoors.  If athletic shoes or additional requirements regarding appropriate dress for physical education is determined, parents will be notified.  All students are required to participate in physical education class.  If a student has a health problem that does not permit him/her to participate, a written release must be sent by the parent explaining the physical/medical reason.  Consistently missing PE, due to health reasons, will require a doctor’s release.

When physical education classes are not provided as scheduled, teachers will prepare a structured whole-group physical activity meeting state standards.

Quaver PE and Health Curriculum will be incorporated into the weekly learning resources.  These lessons will be previewed and analyzed to ensure alignment with Catholic values and teachings.  To learn more about Quaver PE and Health you can visit this site:  QUAVER HEALTH/PE

Our standards will include the following:  Physical Activity Skills and Movement Patterns, Movement Concepts, Strategies, and Tactics, Health-Related Physical Activity and Fitness,

Responsible Behavior, Physical Activity Benefits.

More detailed information can be found at:  https://www.education.ne.gov/pe/

Students will be encouraged to practice skills learned in organized physical education classes during informal recess time.

Students will participate in the “Jump Rope for Heart” program.   Field Day will also provide an opportunity for students to display their athletic abilities.  This will take place in May with area parochial schools.

Music

Musical concepts are explored through singing, playing rhythms, listening, moving, and performing on rhythm instruments.  Concepts and skills taught in one grade are the foundation for learning in the next grade.  Students begin learning note values in the primary grades, then develop the ability to read the musical staff beginning in the 2^nd grade.  All concepts are reinforced through, boomwhackers, bells, and rhythm sticks, and recorders.

Click on the link to find out about our new music program, Quaver Music

This Seriously Fun approach serves as a catalyst to strengthen the bond between teacher and students. Quaver tools empower teachers to lead student-centered instruction and form a strong connection with each and every student.

A strong teacher-student relationship leads to: