Primary at St. Cecelia School | K-2 Curriculum Overview

The We Believe curriculum provided by Sadlier and utilized by St. Cecelia School offers Kindergarteners, First and Second graders numerous stories, videos, worksheets, interactive whiteboard lessons and activities to learn about faith and the Catholic religion. Bible stories, songs, chapel, Mass, prayers, Rosary, Exposition and service projects all contribute to the knowledge and faith experience of all students. The students learn about the special relationship that exists with Jesus, our friend and brother. Knowledge of the weekly gospels is supplemented with the use of Pflaum’s Good News and Promise magazines. Second graders prepare for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Eucharist through their parish programs which is then supported and reinforced at school.

St. Cecelia School primary students work to develop creative and critical thinking skills. The language arts curriculum is literature based with reading, writing and listening activities provided through the stories in the Scott Foresman reading texts (and Starfall for Kindergarten). The students work on phonics, grammar, spelling, comprehension and handwriting (D’Nealian). Trade books, individual teacher-student book talks, guided reading, short stories (fiction and nonfiction), and read-alouds are used throughout the primary grades. Through first grade, the children learn the four-square method of writing which provides a strong structure with a main idea and supporting details. Second grade builds on this structure through an introduction to writing traits that will help to further develop their writing skills and to prepare students for the challenges of writing in the intermediate grades. Ideas, organization, word choice, convention, fluency, and voice are emphasized.

Kindergarten, First and Second grade students at St. Cecelia School utilize the EnVision Math curriculum designed by Scott Foresman/Addison Wesley. Kindergarten students learn to recognize, write and count numbers to 100, while also learning to count by 2s, 5s and 10s. Early addition and subtraction problems are solved. Students learn to tell time to the hour and half hour, recognize and know the value of coins, identify geometric shapes and fractions. A variety of manipulatives, computer programs and workbooks are used to cultivate skills. First graders concentrate on the development of thinking and reasoning strategies. Using manipulatives, computers and cooperative learning, the students add, subtract, regroup, tell time, count money, estimate, and recognize fractions and geometric shapes. Second graders expand addition and subtraction skills. Place value, time, measurement, and multiplication are taught as well. Emphasis is placed on strengthening the students’ math computation and problem solving skills while creating a well-developed math sense.

Life Science, Earth Science, and Physical Science, along with Space and Technology information provided through the use of Scott Foresman texts and support materials. Reading, writing and hands-on activities enhance the science curriculum daily. Recycling efforts are evident in the classrooms and throughout St. Cecelia School.

Kindergarten, first and second-grade students at St. Cecelia School utilize the McGraw-Hill program. For Kindergarten, the program includes a hands-on interactive workbook that coordinates with online lessons and activities. Big Ideas include the following: Things Change Over Time, Rules Help Us Get Along, We Celebrate Our Culture and People Make Choices. The first-grade curriculum includes: Our History, Our Communities, Citizenship, Oceans, Continents, Native Americans, Map Skills, Rain Forests, and Holidays. Second-grade curriculum focuses on Geography, Map Skills, Continents, Pilgrims, and Expansion of the USA. Throughout the social studies curriculum all students gain insight into Immigration, Why Nations Form Rules and Constitutions, and Supply and Demand Among Nations.