Language Arts:

         Our English Language Arts (ELA) program. follows the California Common core standards and empowers students to take an active role in learning and exploration.  Our students enjoy unparalleled opportunities to express and asses themselves through reading, writing and speaking.  Reading is taught with whole group instruction and then broken into small ability groups for leveled reading.  Each week, students read stories that are focused on one concept and then their literacy development within phonics, vocabulary, spelling, grammer, and creative writing flow from that concept.  Additional reading skills are taught through activities such as reading poetry, choral reading, partner reading, and LEXIA, an adaptive online phonics program. 
 

Math:

         Our main areas of instruction for first grade mathematics are number sense, addition and subtraction, place value, measurement and geometry.  There is a strong emphasis on problem-solving that runs throughout the curriculum.  Students engage in partner work and hands-on activities with manipulatives.  Several days a week, students work in small groups to better accomodate each child's skill level.  during group time, DreamBox, an online adaptive math program, helps students accelerate learning, build confidence, and provide needed support.
 

Religion:

         Prayer is a centeal theme at SJC.  Each morning begins with prayer at our all-school Morning Assembly.  Students practice their prayers daily.  Two Fridays a month we attend all-school masses led by our students.  We end every day in Prayer thanking God for all the good in our lives and asking for intentions.  First grade also has emphasis on sevice to others by participating in Reach Out projects.  The major topics covered are Our Church Community, Our Loving God, God's Son Jesus, The Holy Spirit and Jesus' followers. 
 

Science/Science Lab:

     Elementary school years are the time to nuture a child's curiosity.  This is the time to teach children how to think critically, how to solve problems.  Our science curriculum teaches first graders to nuture their curiosity, are guided to explore their world, and develop the most important skill of all: the ability to figure things out for themselves.  Following Next Generation Science Standards, students use an inquiry-based process to focus on exploring, explaining, and evaluating the three major categories: Life (parts of animals and plants, animal and plant survival, protecting the young, animal and plant trait inheritance and variation), Earth (patterns in space, seasonal patterns), and Physical (sound, light, communication).
 

Social Studies:

         In Social studies, first gtaders have lessons following the California Common Core standards in the following themes: citizenship, people and places, our country, changes over time, cultures, and goods and services.
 

Computers/Technology:

           Digital interactive whiteboards are utilized for class activities and lessons.  Morning messages, calendar items, reviewing alphabet letters and sounds, and watching videos.  IPads are inegraded into small groups to reinforce reading, writing and math concepts.
 

Fine Arts:

          Music and Fine Arts classes are offered once a week led by our music and art teachers. Liturgical music and preparation for prayer services and school concerts.  Weekly classes introduce basic art terms with a focus on the elements of art.  Students are exposed to a variety of media while continuing to improve fine motor skills. 
 

Physical Education:

         Weekly physical education classes develop age approiprate basic movement skills, emphasize team building opportunities while practicing sportsmanship and learning how to be fit and healthy. 
 

Spanish:

          Our main focus is getting the students used to the sounds in Spanish. We do this mainly through songs and games.
 

Library:

         Time is afforded once a week to enjoy time in the library to listen to stories read aloud, and to check out books.