Lower School Curriculum

Here you can read about the various classes that are offered to each of the Lower School grades, course descriptions and what textbook and/or resources they use. Click on the link below for the grade that you're interested in learning more about.

Pre-K 3rd Grade
Kindergarten 4th Grade
1st Grade 5th Grade
2nd Grade 6th Grade


Kindergarten Curriclum

Bible

"The Story of God and His People"
Christian Schools International

Biblical integration of the Christian world view is integrated into all content areas.

Specifics about the MCA Bible Program

  • Presents the story of God and His people in chronological order and teaches the events in context, so that students understand more fully what it means to be part of God's family
  • Teacher directed Bible story is the central element with multi-sensory follow-up activities which aid student retention
  • Praise and worship music
  • Corporate prayer time
  • Weekly chapel (frequent student performances)
  • Scripture Memory

Language Arts

SRA/Open Court Reading Specifics about the MCA Reading Series

  • Systematically teaches letter knowledge and phonemic awareness
  • Introduces sound/spelling systematically
  • Offers direct instruction in blending all of the sounds into words
  • Builds fluency, the key to comprehension, through decodable books
  • Connects spelling to phonics through dictation and spelling activities
  • Offers a range of text genres, including different forms of literature
  • Integrates reading, writing, discussion, research, and exploration into each lesson
  • Evolves sequentially, becoming increasingly complex and demanding
  • Produces emergent readers with a high frequency word vocabulary of 100 words.
  • Produces fluent use of consonant sounds and emergent/fluent use of long and short vowel sounds in decoding.

Typical Learning Centers for Language Development in Kindergarten

  • Library Corner
  • Listening Center
  • Writing Centers

Spelling

Zaner-Bloser Spelling Connections

Specifics about the MCA Spelling Series

  • Students complete practice activities and learn spelling strategies to help develop mastery of words
  • Systematic and explicit instruction helps students learn and apply words in meaningful content
  • Students develop skills which enable them to use spelling resources
  • Phonics instruction improves reading and spelling skills through increased pattern and word recognition
  • Spelling activities help students understand word meaning and stimulate reading comprehension
  • Tools and activities help students apply correct spelling to their own writing
  • Students learn the writing process while actively transferring spelling skills to their own writing

Math

Heath Connections/Everyday Counts

Specifics about the MCA Math Series

  • Systematically teaches math concepts through active participation
  • Introduces problem-solving activities with story driven lessons
  • Math concepts incorporated in discovery process with "Every Day Counts"
  • Exposes students to calendar concepts, counting tapes, coin counters, and graphs
  • Challenges students to analyze data, see patterns, and explore mathematical relationships
  • Introduces addition, subtraction, geometry, coin values and measurement

Typical Multi-sensory Activities for Math in Kindergarten

  • Geo-boards
  • Blocks
  • Links
  • Cubes
  • Games
  • Life Experience Activities

Social Studies

Houghton-Mifflin Social Studies

Specifics about the MCA Social Studies Series

  • Systematically integrates themes from the community
  • Makes connections to the larger world
  • Explores the geographic, social, and economic aspects of the world
  • Incorporates literature, biographies, and lessons about real families

Typical Multi-sensory Activities for Social Studies in Kindergarten

  • Art Centers using a variety of visual media
  • Dramatic Play Centers
  • Music and Movement Activities
  • Field trips, videos, and literature

Science

Addison-Wesley

Specifics about the MCA Science Series

  • Students learn to observe, manipulate, and explore the world around them
  • Exposes students to life, physical, earth, and health science
  • Integrates hands-on experiences in and out of the classroom

Typical Multi-sensory Activities for Science in Kindergarten

  • Construction Center
  • Experiences with Living Things
  • Field trips, videos, and literature

Co-Curricular Classes

  • Music
  • Spanish
  • PE
  • Library
  • Art