Religion

Kindergarten uses the Family Life Series and Bible stories.  They learn beginning prayers, about some saints, church holy days, and praying the rosary. We attend Mass weekly and on holy days.

Language Arts/Reading

Kindergarten uses the Phonics Dance Program to emphasize phonics skills. Good Shepherd  Catholic School uses the Heggerty for Phonemic Awareness instruction as well as the Wonders Curriculum for small group instruction to increase our phonemic awareness skills when manipulating sounds in words.  Language arts time is spent teaching students letter recognition and sounds, digraphs, blends, decoding skills, and weekly sight word recognition. Leveled reading groups and learning centers are completed with each student’s ability in mind.

Handwriting/Writing

Kindergarten uses the D’Nealian Handwriting program which takes a multi-sensory approach to handwriting. Kindergarten students are taught basic writing skills such as grammar and sentence structure while they are writing.  We continue to work on our writing with a Daily Edit exercise. Students are encouraged to use inventive spelling as they write their journal entries and assignments with illustrations.

Math

Kindergarten uses the Eureka Math program to teach skills such as counting, number ordering, making and interpreting graphs, number operations, money skills, time, and calendar skills. Concepts are introduced as a large group followed by review in small group and individual work. Math manipulatives are used during center time activities.

Social Studies

Kindergarten focuses on citizenship, holidays around the world, community, and our world.  Students learn about national holidays and celebrations, families, important symbols, people and events in history, and maps.

Science

During Science, the children will be exposed to the concepts of scientific methods. Over the year, we will cover such topics as Earth/Sun/Moon, living and nonliving things, trees, solids/liquids/gases, polar animals, forces and motion, types of energy, and plants.