THIRD GRADE

English - English curriculum focuses on grammar, sentence structure, and capitalization and punctuation skills. Students practice the acquired skills in Reading and Writing. Students reread their writing, checking for proper use of the skills taught.  With practice, students should be able to apply their knowledge of skills to all writing across the curriculum. 

Handwriting - 3rd Grade students will practice cursive handwriting through the HANDWRITING WITHOUT TEARS program.  HWT uses a simple, vertical style which is easy for children to read and write.  The purpose of Cursive Handwriting is to enable all students to write cursive with fluency and neatness. 

Reading - 3rd Grade Reading curriculum teaches students to become more skilled readers through phonemic awareness (connecting letters to their sounds), systematic, explicit phonics (applying the links between letters and sounds to printed words), fluency (reading effortlessly with speed, accuracy, and expression), vocabulary (learning word meaning to build comprehension), and text comprehension (thinking actively before, during, and after reading). Students are encouraged to develop a cultural literacy through exposure to a variety of excellent literature by award-winning authors.

Spelling - The goal of 3rd Grade spelling instruction is to enable students to write fluently. The spelling lessons are organized around different spelling patterns and coordinate with the weekly Reading and Vocabulary lessons. Students are expected to apply these spelling skills in all their writing across the curriculum. 

Personal Development- Personal development encompasses the whole student: Character, Knowledge, and Spirit.  In 3rd, grade students continue to develop their relationships with God, authority figures, and peers with the use of the FAITH Guidelines.  Students are encouraged to accept only their personal best.

Religion - Religion instruction is based on scripture and rooted in the teachings of the CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.  The focus of Grade 3 is the Church and the kind of community the Church is called to be.  The mission, the message, the prayer and the actions of God's special family will be explored.  Students attend Mass weekly. 

Science - The Science program implements the national science standards by focusing on the tools and processes of inquiry and the content with life, earth, and physical sciences.  Building the skills of inquiry empowers the 3rd Grade students to solve problems, to evaluate their solutions, and to plan their own investigations.  Students participate in the primary science lab weekly to apply the scientific principles through investigations utilizing FOSS kits.

Social Studies -  Through the 3rd Grade Social Studies curriculum, students will understand how they are linked to other people in the community, state, region, nation, and world.  Students will study history, geography, and citizenship.  The Social Studies curriculum will be enhanced through attendance at 4-H Environmental camp, planting in the school garden, and coordinating the recycling program for the school.

FOURTH GRADE

Social Studies - Our main focus is the study of Kentucky.  Topics include:  state symbols, early history, Kentucky's place in the world, explorers and settlers, the American Revolution, statehood, antebellum Kentucky, Civil War and Reconstruction, Kentucky in the new century, governing Kentucky, and making a living in Kentucky.  We also study graphs, charts, timelines, and maps.

Personal Development and Study Habits - While 4th grade is a time of transition from the primary to the intermediate, students are expected to build on the personal development already learned.  They are expected to: get along with others; respect authority, students, and property; accept responsibility and correction; and talk at appropriate times.  Students are also asked to come to school each day with a positive attitude, ready to work. Students are expected to follow the CTK FAITH Guidelines for Success.

Language Arts - Fourth grade areas of focus are cause and effect, compare and contrast, main ideas and details, drawing conclusions, author's point of view, author's purpose, making inferences, classifying and categorizing, and fact and opinion.  We also use the Wordly Wise 3000 Series which help students increase their vocabulary.

Writing - Fourth grade studies the parts of speech, sentence structure, and 6-trait writing.  We also study verb tenses, subject-verb agreement, figurative language, pronoun-antecedent agreement, direct objects, combining sentences, sentence fragments, run-on sentences, and rambling sentences.  Proofreading is an integral part of all subjects.

Mathematics - The fourth grade follows a spiraling program.   Once a concept is introduced, it continues to be included in mixed practice.  Topics include exponents, square roots, fractions, decimals, percents, geometry, reading and writing numbers through hundred millions, word problems, and estimation.  We also continue to study the four basic functions of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Students are expected to know the basic facts of each operation when entering fourth grade

Religion - Fourth grade areas of focus are: the creed, liturgy and sacraments, Christian morality, prayer, service to others and planning liturgies.  Our stewardship program is "Feed the Hungry."  Each student is expected to memorize and follow the FAITH Guidelines. 

Spelling - Fourth grade focuses on pattern study.  Some of the key components are vowel and consonant sounds, syllables, digraphs, compound words, abbreviations, and prefixes and suffixes.   

FIFTH GRADE

Religion - This year the focus in Religion is a greater understanding of the fundamentals of the Catholic faith along with a more detailed study of the seven sacraments.  A Saint Report will be required from each fifth grader - these will be presented throughout the year beginning around November.  We end the year with May Crowning and Family Life during the month of May. 

Spelling - The Zaner Bloser Sixth grade text is used for spelling in fifth grade.  Each Monday we discuss the phonics spelling pattern that will be the unit's focus for the week.  A pretest is given on this day.  Unfamiliar words are discussed, and we go over directions together.  The exercises for the unit are assigned and are due on Wednesday.  A final test is given on Friday. 

Reading - We continue the use of the Open Court program in fifth grade.  Developing strategic readers with an emphasis on comprehension is key this year as we enjoy literature.  We work to help the students learn to solve problems as they are reading and develop meaning as they become independent readers! Vocabulary knowledge is also critical in reading so this becomes an area of focus through content vocabulary and the Wordly Wise 3000 program.  The integration of Social Studies and Science pieces adds interest to our reading as it challenges the students. 6-Trait Writing is also part of the Language Arts curriculum this year.  We continue to teach and use the traits of Ideas, Organization, Voice, Sentence Fluency, Word Choice, and Conventions as we strengthen the students’ writing skills. 

English - The focus of English in fifth grade is to combine good grammar and usage with writing.  Between the use of the Open Court series, the Houghton Mifflin text, and supplemental materials, students will review and extend their understanding of grammar, usage, capitalization, punctuation, figurative language, and sentence structure.  We will use graphic organizers and work through the writing process as we write several pieces.   

Math - This class is designed to prepare students for middle school math.  Students will continue building their skills with fractions, decimals, and the four basic functions.  Students will explore more on the topics of Algebraic thinking, measurement, geometry, and probability. The material will be presented using a variety of techniques including demonstration, practice of mathematics skills, and use of appropriate math tools (i.e. protractor, ruler, etc).  Various interactive websites and computer programs are used via the Smartboard to review material.

Science - This class covers several topics in science.  Life science focuses on plants, animals, and ecosystems.  Earth science examines earth, its resources, and weather.  Physical science looks at matter, energy, and motion.  These topics will be covered through class discussion and mini-labs.  Students will use various interactive websites to further investigate some of these topics.  Students will participate in an in-house science fair.

Social Studies - Social studies covers American history from the first migrations into the Americas through the 20th century. Students will use an interactive student notebook as individuals and in small groups to sharpen map skills, writing skills, and critical thinking with activities designed to examine the past and relate it to the present.  The material will be presented using a variety of artifacts, interactive activities and websites, and the History Alive! program.