Language Arts
Effective communications (primarily reading and writing) require a wide range of integrated skills. We try very hard to teach subject material in a balanced, reinforcing approach where children are continually stretched to use previously-learned skills as they develop and expand into new areas of expression.
Reading
The core component of our reading program is a strong emphasis on phonics. Critical reading is emphasized to strengthen reading comprehension and retention of information. (This ability becomes a gift for deeper understanding of concepts introduced in all subject areas.) Reading instruction continues through introduction of age-appropriate classical literature, book reports, vocabulary roots, and reading for pleasure.
Writing
Our writing program techniques enable students to express themselves clearly and accurately in writing. Early concentration is focused on proper penmanship, building vocabulary and spelling. Special emphasis is directed to organizing thoughts in speech and essay writing. Writing skills are expanded through creative writing (teaching parts of a story) and simple poetic writing.
Our textbook approach to grammar introduces a basic foundation in language skills, progressing to advanced grammatical concepts in higher grades. This approach forms a solid basis for the mastery of advanced writing and foreign language skills.
Sci-Math Speakers Gavel Club
The school sponsors a ToastMasters International club for students know as a "Gavel Club". You may be familiar with the ToastMasters program, which has been designed for adults in mind. Basically, the Gavel Club (Sci-Math Speakers Gavel Club) is very similar to the "adult version" of Toastmasters, but has been adapted to serve younger members. The program is designed to develop the public speaking skills of students, give them confidence, and develop leadership skills.
Section 1: (Grades K-2)
We work on reading comprehension (across multiple subject areas) and grammar, sentence construction, parts of a sentence, leveraging ideas and concepts, statements and questions, exclamations and commands, writing a personal story, listening and speaking, nouns (plural nouns, proper nouns, pronouns), tense (present and past), word forms o(to be, have, come, run, give, go, do, and see), adjectives, verbs, and adverbs. We look at the correct usage of nouns and verbs, fixing sentence problems and troublesome words. Children will do research and writing projects.
Section 2: (Grades 3 & 4)
We explore expressive writing through sentence construction, subjects/nouns and predicates/verbs, and simple/compound sentences. Informative writing delves further into nouns, possessive nouns, action and linking verbs, main verbs and helping verbs. Persuasive writing looks at simple tense, verb tense, irregular verbs and the perfect tense. Children will look at pronouns, adjectives and adverbs for informative writing. Later, we move to preposition, phrases and clauses, Correct punctuation (commas, quotations, colons, hyphens and capitalization), and complex sentences. Finally, children will look at various writing models (research, news, business, story, etc.).
Section 3: (Grades 5 & 6)
Because learning to break words into their parts is an important initial step in building a vocabulary, children take a closer look at the root words (primarily Greek and Latin roots) that form the basis for many English words.
Effective communications (primarily reading and writing) require a wide range of integrated skills. We try very hard to teach subject material in a balanced, reinforcing approach where children are continually stretched to use previously-learned skills as they develop and expand into new areas of expression.
Reading
The core component of our reading program is a strong emphasis on phonics. Critical reading is emphasized to strengthen reading comprehension and retention of information. (This ability becomes a gift for deeper understanding of concepts introduced in all subject areas.) Reading instruction continues through introduction of age-appropriate classical literature, book reports, vocabulary roots, and reading for pleasure.
Writing
Our writing program techniques enable students to express themselves clearly and accurately in writing. Early concentration is focused on proper penmanship, building vocabulary and spelling. Special emphasis is directed to organizing thoughts in speech and essay writing. Writing skills are expanded through creative writing (teaching parts of a story) and simple poetic writing.
Our textbook approach to grammar introduces a basic foundation in language skills, progressing to advanced grammatical concepts in higher grades. This approach forms a solid basis for the mastery of advanced writing and foreign language skills.
Sci-Math Speakers Gavel Club
The school sponsors a ToastMasters International club for students know as a "Gavel Club". You may be familiar with the ToastMasters program, which has been designed for adults in mind. Basically, the Gavel Club (Sci-Math Speakers Gavel Club) is very similar to the "adult version" of Toastmasters, but has been adapted to serve younger members. The program is designed to develop the public speaking skills of students, give them confidence, and develop leadership skills.
Section 1: (Grades K-2)
We work on reading comprehension (across multiple subject areas) and grammar, sentence construction, parts of a sentence, leveraging ideas and concepts, statements and questions, exclamations and commands, writing a personal story, listening and speaking, nouns (plural nouns, proper nouns, pronouns), tense (present and past), word forms o(to be, have, come, run, give, go, do, and see), adjectives, verbs, and adverbs. We look at the correct usage of nouns and verbs, fixing sentence problems and troublesome words. Children will do research and writing projects.
Section 2: (Grades 3 & 4)
We explore expressive writing through sentence construction, subjects/nouns and predicates/verbs, and simple/compound sentences. Informative writing delves further into nouns, possessive nouns, action and linking verbs, main verbs and helping verbs. Persuasive writing looks at simple tense, verb tense, irregular verbs and the perfect tense. Children will look at pronouns, adjectives and adverbs for informative writing. Later, we move to preposition, phrases and clauses, Correct punctuation (commas, quotations, colons, hyphens and capitalization), and complex sentences. Finally, children will look at various writing models (research, news, business, story, etc.).
Section 3: (Grades 5 & 6)
Because learning to break words into their parts is an important initial step in building a vocabulary, children take a closer look at the root words (primarily Greek and Latin roots) that form the basis for many English words.