Curriculum
Grades 3-5
Our philosophy is very simple, a child’s grade does not dictate what he or she learns, it is based on the needs of the child. If a child is ready to do more challenging and complex work in all disciplines, we focus on creating a learning environment that does fulfill that need.
Welcome to Our Lady’s Academy Lower School 3-5 Program!
English Language Arts:
A Balanced Literacy Approach is best for teaching children how to read and write. Our goal is for students to receive high quality instruction in a variety of contexts to help them develop a lifelong love of reading and writing. Components of balanced literacy include whole group experiences, such as shared reading and interactive read aloud; small group experiences, such as guided reading, and independent reading. Students are assessed in reading to find their instructional reading levels which enable us to group students in the appropriate levels. The same instructional contexts apply to writing. Reading and Writing Workshop drive the literacy block and ensures that students are receiving instruction tailored to meet their individual needs.
Mathematics:
Our Math program provides a pedagogy that reflects the keystones of mathematical learning that empowers students. It fosters students’ conceptual understanding and skill development with a cohesive grouping of lessons, explicit instruction, and guided and independent practice. It strengthens students’ metacognitive development and promote learning with abundant real-world problem solving and applications related to STEM. The most important mathematical topics during these pivotal years are multiplication, division, and fractions which are the building blocks for many skills that students will need in later grades. To be ready for algebra, students must have an understanding of fractional arithmetic, in part because even simple equations cannot be solved without fractions. In the lower school students are applying the skills to solve more complex problems. This is an important life skill, and your child should make significant strides in this area during the lower school years. As in every grade, advanced math skills are taught according to the child’s mathematical development.
Social Studies:
Students in the Lower School begin the journey drawing on information from local historic sites, historical societies, and museums, students learn about the history of Massachusetts from the time of the arrival of the Pilgrims, as well as learning the history of their own cities and towns and about famous people and events in Massachusetts’ history. They explore our country’s geography by addressing standards that embed five major concepts: location, place, human interaction with the environment, movement, and regions. The grade five curriculum is giving students their first concentrated study of the formative years of the U.S. Students study major pre-Columbian civilizations in the New World; the 15th and the 16th century European explorations around the world, in the Western Hemisphere, and in North America in particular; the earliest settlements in North America; and the political, economic, and social development of the English colonies in the 17th and 18th centuries. They also study the early development of democratic institutions and ideas, including the ideas and events that led to the independence of the original thirteen colonies and the formation of a national government under the U.S. Constitution.
Elementary Science:
We believe students are born scientists. It is our job as educators to encourage their curiosity, creativity, and exploration while we prepare them for careers in science, technology, engineering and math. Our curriculum is based on the new Next Generation Science Standards. The units of study focus on the core concepts in all disciplines: life, earth and space, physical science, and technology/engineering. This program is built around active learning rather than receiving content passively. Their natural curiosity leads them to observe, ask a million questions, try different ways of doing something and seek to learn about the world around them. Our STEM classes have inspired our students to ask why and how! Our curriculum provides opportunities for students to pose questions and problems, learn by doing, interact with one another and build their scientific knowledge over time. Our Lady’s Academy science program provides rich hands-on experiences that develop problem-solving skills that will empower students to participate in our increasingly scientific and technological world.
Religion:
Our Religious education reflects the core Catholic values in our school mission. These values include charity, faith, service, and global stewardship. Our curriculum delves deeper into the sacraments. Teacher led service projects, including but not limited to, writing letters to the elderly, and collecting for the poor and needy people in our community as well as becoming actively involved in our church service. Students also participate in daily prayer, monthly and seasonal liturgies and activities as well as school conferences with Father DiPerri.
