Welcome to Lower School at
Bishop Noland Episcopal Day School
First Grade Curriculum
First Grade is an exciting year for our students! The children are eager to wear uniforms and give up naps . . . just like the big kids! Our highly differentiated first grade program encourages increasing independence and leadership as we teach routines to foster good study skills.
In addition to the rapid development of cognitive abilities, this year is one of tremendous physical, social, and emotional growth. First graders are maturing rapidly, and this is an excellent year for character-building lessons that will continue throughout the EDS experience. The most recent Stanford Achievement scores indicate that our first graders test an average of one and a half to two grade levels above the national norms in reading and math. These are the building blocks for a successful academic career.
The Reading and Language Arts program continues the heavy emphasis on phonics-based lessons from PreK4 and Kindergarten and accelerates learning by including many opportunities for speaking, reading, and writing. Children read in class, read individually to the teacher and teaching assistant, and read at home. Teacher-led reading lessons include systematic, direct, multisensory instruction of phonics and skills while exploring many genres of literature. English grammar, mechanics, and the writing process are taught systematically as well. In addition, journal writing provides an individual phonics and grammar lesson for each child. Students work daily in an independent skills workbook on their individual reading levels. The Accelerated Reader program encourages reading and increases reading ability by giving the young reader the confidence to read more challenging books. Reading levels are evaluated four times a year using the S.T.A.R. Reader diagnostic tool. Because the strongest educational foundation for life-long learners is the ability to read, speak, and write clearly, these skills are heavily emphasized.
Manipulatives, games, practice, and mathematical reasoning are all part of the diverse approach to the Mathematics program. The emphasis on our program is on developing number sense and understanding mathematical concepts rather than just learning algorithms, as recommended by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Problem solving skills are fostered by traditional “story problems” and direct instruction of logic and analogy. Parents are amazed that their children enjoy math and are not fearful of the various skills introduced during the year. Manipulatives are always available as the children develop number sense and learn about money, time, measurement, fractions and probability, geometry, graphing and data collection, and place value, as well as computation. Mad Minutes will become part of everyday conversation with your first grader as he masters math facts. This is a special part of the first grade math program that makes learning fun while reinforcing basic skills.
Science and Social Studies units allow children to explore the world around them through hands-on activities, field trips, and cross-curricular projects. Science units include Plants; Animals; The Sky and Weather; Caring for the Earth; Matter, Matter Everywhere; and On the Move. Our biome, the special habitat first graders study, is Grasslands. Social Studies topics include Where We Live (geography); Our Earth (environment); Working Together (economics); Our Country Today (civics); Our Country Long Ago (history); People and Places in History (history); Louisiana culture, and map skills.
A Health program and Substance Abuse Prevention Education (SAPE) helps students learn about nutrition, safety, fitness, and substance abuse prevention as well as including activities to help children make good decisions, set goals, and resolve conflicts. A weekly subscription to Weekly Reader offers current topics for study.
The Religion program includes Chapel, Eucharist, and weekly classroom lessons, as well as the many opportunities that arise during a first grader’s day to discuss virtues, choices, and character development. There is a three-year rotating cycle in place in the school to study the Old Testament, New Testament, and church history and tradition. In conjunction with the Religion program, first grade students are encouraged to participate as a class in outreach projects. Some past projects have included donations to the Heifer Project, sponsoring a child in Haiti through Tend My Lambs, raising money for LaPaw to help homeless animals, and working with 8th graders planting to restore the grasslands in Louisiana. This allows the children to see what a difference even a first grader can make. In addition, Bishop Noland is a Leader in Me school. We are teaching the principles of the seven habits to develop a good work ethic, compassion, and leadership in every child.
Bishop Noland Episcopal Day School offers wonderful enrichments in addition to the regular classroom program. Each week the children attend classes in music, art, physical education, library, computer, and Spanish. Field trips typically include a ballet, musical, or play, museums, and special events that are offered to area schools such as the Halloween Pumpkin Patch and Grant Christmas Tree Farm. Our traditional Mothers’ Day Tea is a great favorite, and our end of the year performance of The Grouchy Ladybug and Where the Wild Things Are is always a treat.
Each activity in first grade is designed to develop a skill that will be used for life. The skills are presented to reach all learners-visual, auditory, and kinesthetic/tactile. They are reinforced in a manner that will generate interest and curiosity to seek more knowledge. This is the beginning of happy life-long learners!
Second Grade Curriculum
All instruction in the second grade is designed incorporating whole brain strategies to teach the whole child. These strategies include music, dancing, using gestures, mnemonic devices, storytelling, field trips, role playing, making real-world connections, and a variety of other strategies. We strive to incorporate differentiated instruction in every area. Much focus is placed on reading and math, with a focus also on language arts, science, and social studies. All student work and learning centers are geared as enrichment, as well as an extension of the curriculum base. It is our goal to help each child in second grade to obtain literacy skills, gain knowledge necessary for a successful life, and see learning as a joyful and rewarding experience.
Second grade is the first year that our students at Bishop Noland Episcopal Day School receive letter grades. They are also very excited to learn cursive. Students have become a little more independent and are given more responsibility.
In our Spelling curriculum, we use daily reinforcement of word meaning, word usage, as well as weekly tests to evaluate our students’ word knowledge and comprehension. We incorporate “making words” activities and lessons as a way for our students to connect sounds and build words. Our spelling instruction is differentiated, offering several spelling lists to ensure that each student is challenged and is able to work at his/her potential. Students must master the list of 3rd grade spelling words for the week in order to move on to a more challenging set of words. Spelling homework is also differentiated, in that it offers a variety of activity options for our students to choose in order to master their weekly spelling words. These activities appeal to the learning styles and needs of all students.
In our second grade Reading curriculum, oral reading, comprehension, word knowledge and meaning are stressed with the usage of a designated phonics instruction program. Our basal reader is incorporated into our curriculum as one of the many different approaches used to match the individual learning styles of each student. In addition to our basal reading program, we also focus on literacy units, as well as a unit on author studies. Students are exposed to information about the authors of some of their favorite books. They are also encouraged to read books of every genre. Second graders also participate in the Accelerated Reader Program. This program allows us to help track the individualized comprehension and vocabulary skills of our students. Each student is assigned AR goals according to their reading ability to ensure that they are progressing at an individual pace. These goals are assigned according to the findings of the STAR reading assessment.
In Math, there is a general overview of addition and subtraction facts, place value, ordinal numbers, and other cumulative skills they were taught in first grade. We then progress to addition and subtraction with regrouping with multiple addends, measurement, and basic geometry skills. Multiplication and division concepts are introduced at the end of the year in preparation for memorization in the third grade. An emphasis is also placed on solving word problems, with multiple strategies being taught to solve them. Manipulatives are available to help reinforce math concepts. Students are exposed to learning centers and activities to enhance their math skills. Star Math is a supplemental assessment used to help us assess, set, and track our student’s individual goals. Accelerated math is the supplemental tool that allows us to set objectives for each student based on the Star Math assessment. In addition to our daily math instruction, our students are able to move forward if they are ready or they are able to receive remedial help where needed with our Accelerated Math tool. Math instruction incorporates a variety of hands on activities and projects in the classroom.
In our Language Arts program, we are able to cover all areas of ELA (spelling, phonics, reading, and writing). Daily practice in manuscript and cursive (during the second half of the year) enables students to write neatly and legibly. Writer’s Workshop is an exciting writing program that allows our students to learn the writing process while writing on topics that they choose at their own pace. Students are able to work independently and individually while receiving mini instructions on grammar and sentence structure. Our students are taught to distinguish parts of speech, write friendly letters, write and identify complete sentences, use correct capitalization and punctuation, draw conclusions, and identify main idea and details. These skills are among the main focus of many objectives in the second grade. Due to our emphasis on the arts, we also strive to take at least one field trip during the course of the year to see a Christmas musical ballet or a theatrical production at a local performing arts theatre.
In Social Studies, our students are taught an integrated blend of Louisiana geography, economics, civics and government, and history. We also place emphasis on basic geography skills that focus on our world. All of these units encourage interaction within different environments using field trips and outside resources. In the past, we have visited the Port of Lake Charles during our study of Louisiana waterways, a boat ride through the Atchafalaya basin during our study of Louisiana Wetlands (swamps, bayous, and marshes), Vermilionville (for its rich Louisiana culture and history), the Corn Maze in Reeves to maneuver through the corn maze shaped like the state of Louisiana, and several other educational and relevant field trips. We are always looking for new and exciting opportunities and field trips to enhance our curriculum. Incorporating field trips is one of the 20 brain compatible strategies for whole brain teaching that appeals to all learners.
Science in second grade includes an overall view of animals and plants, the weather, human body, states of matter, and various other topics in earth, health, and physical science. Instruction includes many hands-on and guided lessons. Emphasis is placed on units of study in the areas of earth science. A special unit deals with the study of the pond biome and its surrounding environment. At EDS, we have a pond with a waterfall, indigenous iris, cattails, pond lilies, tadpoles, and fish forms that are the basis of the second grade unit of the pond biome. It is nestled between the music building and the middle school building. Having a permanent pond feature on site allows our students to observe seasonal changes in the pond biome. The fragile balance of this pond is explored and it allows the students to see first-hand how important water quality is and how the animals and plants work together to form this unique water environment. We conclude our pond unit in the spring with a FUN trip to a real pond for our Easter egg hunt and party! We will also be incorporating a small play about our pond biome.
Enrichments are a very special and exciting time for our students. Second graders attend Spanish, Art, Computer Technology, Library, and Physical Education as part of our broad curriculum. They are highly anticipated by our students.
At Bishop Noland Episcopal Day School, we not only pride ourselves on our ability to provide academic excellence in the classroom, but we also feel that is important for our students to have empathy for others and give to others who need our help. Each year in the second grade, our students “adopt” a family who is in need of our financial and spiritual support. We enjoy playing Santa by delivering gifts, good cheer, and Christmas magic in person. We sincerely hope to foster in our students, an awareness and compassion for people who are less fortunate that will carry on into their adult lives.
Third Grade Curriculum
In the third grade we strive to help students become more independent, responsible and, of course, more knowledgeable. (Leader in Me Habit One: We want to teach them to “Be Proactive!”) Along the way, we hope the students have some fun, collect some good memories, feel good about themselves and their learning, and are happy!
Our Reading program encompasses several approaches: teacher modeling of oral reading, guided reading, independent reading, explicit instruction of reading skills and vocabulary strategies, and interdisciplinary reading and writing. We read occasionally from a basal reader as is done in the first and second grade programs at our school, but we also begin reading novels and doing interdisciplinary theme units in the third grade. As the reader becomes more adept in his/her reading skills at this age, novels allow for more in-depth character and plot analysis and opportunities for related research and projects. When we read novels, students will have a copy of the selection that they “check out” from our classroom library. The Accelerated Reader program gives the children an opportunity to keep track of their outside reading as well as to read at their "comfort zone." Our big novels in the third grade are usually Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder and Old Yeller by Fred Gipson. These wonderful stories tie in so well with many of our topics in social studies and, as such, allow for integrated reading/social studies units. We also read Stuart Little in an integrated math/art/reading unit. We read Haiku Hike and enjoy a week-long outdoor education unit incorporating reading, writing, technology, and art. Our third grade reading students enjoy starring in the production of the play Vacation to Mars in another integrated lesson, this time reading/science. Students in third grade also enjoy many and varied response-to-reading activities and art projects. In regard to reading, our goal in third grade is to inspire a love for the written word and create enthusiastic lifetime readers!
The English program combines the basics of grammar...usage and mechanics. Our goal is to have students take the information gained in English class and use it in their daily speaking and writing. Practice in grammar includes skills drills as well as beginning sentence diagramming. Creative writing gives the students the opportunity to tap the imagination while using knowledge from all areas of the Language Arts program. Using a fourth grade level textbook, English is an accelerated area of the third grade curriculum.
Spelling is another accelerated area in the third grade program. Using lessons in a consumable fourth grade level workbook, spelling words are grouped into categories using spelling and phonics rules to help the third grader learn and apply the rules, rather than merely memorizing the spellings of a list of unrelated words. Mastery of the rules learned in Spelling should help unlock the mysteries of the spelling of the words in the English language! Our goal in Spelling is for children to transfer correctness in Spelling to all areas of endeavor.
The Math program provides the student with an opportunity to learn math through involvement, understanding, practice, and application. We begin the year with place value and a review of addition and subtraction. We then begin working on the two big areas of mastery for the third grader: multiplication and division facts. The third grader will also be introduced to "real" multiplication (several digits times one and two digits) and "real" division (a number containing several digits divided by a one digit divisor). An introduction of geometry and fractions, continued work on measurement, graphing, numeration, time, and money are also part of third grade math. The Accelerated Math program serves to supplement and complement our instruction and practice. Math is so much more than the computation of numbers. We give students many opportunities to develop logical and creative thinking skills while solving math-related problems. We also provide opportunities for cooperative and educational games, the use of manipulatives, and real-life applications in mathematics lessons. Our goal here is to have students deepen their understanding of mathematics concepts as opposed to merely memorizing facts and algorithms. Lastly, the beauty of Math and the spirit of Art combine so naturally that we create several Art/Math projects each year.
It is our hope that students in third grade make strides in their ability to manipulate numbers and in thinking mathematically and logically. Above all, we hope the anxieties so often associated with this area of study are replaced with a LOVE and APPRECIATION of the MATHS!
The Social Studies program includes skill lessons involving maps, diagrams, timelines, and graphs that bring a better understanding of the tools used in Social Studies. We then turn to early communities of America...Mesa Verde, Jamestown, and San Francisco. The establishment of the United States of America, the movement westward, and inventions that improved our way of living are another focus of study. To make Social Studies come alive for the students, we have several "you were there" movies, we read many books which deal with the events and people that made history, and we have many projects that give the students hands-on opportunities to relate to the subject matter. We hope that the students come away from third grade with some knowledge of the world around them and will never think that history is only a bunch of dates to be memorized!
Our Science curriculum covers life science, physical science, earth science, and health science. These areas are explored by the learning of factual information in a discussion-type environment and through hands-on experiments and projects which allow the student to see science at work in our world.
Third grade students will manage the lower school sustainable garden. As a school involved with the city’s Junior Team Green, we will involve ourselves with environmental issues that pertain to our community! Leader in Me Habits: “Think Win Win” and “Synergize.”
A perennial favorite of third graders is the study of the Solar System, “StarGazing and S’Mores Nights” and “Telescope Night.” We also do an exciting "outer space" field trip via the Challenger Learning Center and The Houston Museum of Natural Science. Third Grade Science is super-exciting!!
To round out the program the students are challenged to become physically healthy in Physical Education, and to acquire an appreciation of the fine arts in the areas of Music and Art. The ever-changing world of Technology is presented in our computer lab and students regularly visit our library to further their reading development. Third grade students also have the opportunity to develop a working knowledge of the Spanish language. Enrichment programs offered at Bishop Noland Episcopal Day School are second to none!
Things to look forward to in third grade include: Student-written and illustrated book (our own Haiku Hike), Student-made e-book (Facts about Vietnam, etc), Star Gazing and S'Mores Nights and starring in the third grade production of Vacation to Mars, Telescope Night: Ice cream sundaes, constellation and stargazing crafts, and opportunities for stargazing utilizing our own third grade telescopes, exciting "outer space" field trip via Challenger Learning Center and Houston Museum of Natural Science, The Chocolate Touch and Chocolate Day activities, Stuart Little and the creation of a shoebox house for Stuart, Little House on the Prairie and many other wonder-filled books, learning to knit yarn winter hats for elderly residents of local nursing homes as an outreach program at Christmas time and much more!
Fourth Grade Curriculum
Along with newfound independence, a fourth grade student welcomes a more independent style of school work. Stimulating teacher instruction tempered with patience makes it possible for students to work in groups to solve problems and complete tasks. Differentiated instruction allows all students to receive the help and challenges they need to succeed.
The Spelling program incorporates vocabulary study, pronunciation skills, and spelling of a minimum of 20 related words. These words are used correctly in a variety of writing exercises. Weekly testing determines mastery.
The Language program gives students a review of basic grammar and writing skills. It then takes them into more complicated grammar studies and mechanics. Lessons include speaking, listening skills, and research skills. Creative writing is taught with step by step instruction. Students learn to develop a topic, write a paragraph, choose appropriate descriptive words, and strengthen personal voice.
The Reading program includes remedial lessons and advanced instruction. The program is closely geared to meet each child’s needs. Adequate practice is provided in the following areas: comprehension skills, study skills, communication skills, and literacy skills. Frequent oral reading helps students with phrasing, inflection, and speaking skills. The class reads and studies novels and short stories throughout the year to appreciate authors’ styles and to practice comprehension and vocabulary strategies. A daily workbook is also used to strengthen comprehension skills.
The Math program uses both cooperative grouping and individualized lessons to meet the needs of the students. Using games, hands-on activities, and practice sheets, students learn the following: place value, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of whole numbers, problem solving, fractions and decimals, geometry, graphing, time, and measurement. The Accelerated Math program provides remediation and challenges on an appropriate level as needed.
The Science program uses cooperative learning to support direct instruction. Use of technology along with hands-on activities and investigation promotes learning in these areas: measuring and comparing, energy, electricity, simple machines, living organisms, ecosystems, planet Earth and its moon, and the forces that affect Earth’s features, such as earthquakes and volcanoes. The Fourth Grade Biome is the Coastal Forest. We work closely with LSU Coastal Roots program to make this study meaningful to the students.
The Social Studies program is an intensive study of our nation. Students learn about the four regions of the United States – the Northeast, South, Midwest, and West. They study its land, water, and climate. They also learn about its history and diverse cultures.
One of the highlights of our student's fourth grade year is our field trip to the State Capitol and the Louisiana State Museum in Baton Rouge. By the end of third quarter students should be able to identify the fifty states and their capitals on a map. Students also select a state to research. The state project is a power point presentation showcasing library and internet research as well as computer skills.
Fifth Grade Curriculum
A fifth grade child is often experiencing the early stages of adolescence complete with growth spurts and emotional changes. The fifth grade program recognizes these changes and strives to help focus each child with interesting and challenging material aimed at problem solving and critical thinking.
The fifth grade English program emphasizes proficiency in mechanics and the usage of the eight parts of speech. Textbooks and workbooks are used to introduce concepts and provide practice. Opportunities to write are coordinated with the reading of literature and social studies. Writing assignments are in the form of creative writing, formal book reports, and research reports to exercise the usage of English. Students are evaluated through chapter tests and written work.
The Reading program focuses on the study of novels with oral and independent reading. These books are taken from historical fiction lists and other genre that coordinate with the social studies units. Other literary forms such as poetry are incorporated into the study of reading when appropriate. Activities designed to develop vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking skills are included. To meet individual needs in the development of reading and comprehension skills, students are placed in the Accelerated Reader Program. This computer program tests and tracks each student’s independent reading. Computers are also used in creative writing.
The Spelling program introduces new words every week through recitation and oral spelling. Workbook exercises, crossword puzzles, word searches, unscrambling activities and motivational game drills are provided to reinforce the learning. New words and their meaning are taught in fifth grade through repetition and reinforcement. Throughout the year, basic spelling rules are reviewed and reinforced. The Zaner-Bloser Spelling Connections is used to implement the spelling program.
The Math program provides many opportunities for each child to master specific skill objectives. Students will continue to master place value and rounding from thousandths to billions. Tests, motivational games and activities will be used to meet the individual learning needs of each student. Multiplication facts from 2 - 12 should be mastered before 5th grade. Basic facts of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division are covered with whole numbers, decimals, and fractions. The basics of geometry (area is included) ratio and proportion, percent, graphing and measurement are studied.
The Science program studies the basics in life science, physical science, earth science and health science. Opportunities for exploration activities and discussion are provided to introduce concepts, capture student interest and develop concepts. To further build skills and concepts, children will take part in experiments in the classroom and field trips. Science processing skills are taught through hands-on activities. Students demonstrate their understanding and practice critical thinking through assigned projects and discussions. An exciting and in-depth study of the ocean biome is part of the curriculum.
The Social Studies program provides an in-depth study of American History beginning with the crossing of the land bridge through the period surrounding the Civil War. Each unit is taught with the addition of a hands-on activity revolving around research or additional study. The course is designed to encourage students’ enjoyment of the social sciences and to show them the relationship between early times and their world today. The computer and digital camera are also used to study and make reports about historical figures.
At the heart of the Religion program is worship. We have chapel every Monday and Eucharist every Friday. In addition, virtues will be taught in the classroom through activities and discussions. Bible stories are incorporated into the curriculum and activities relating to the themes are completed by the students.
In addition, fifth grade students participate in many enrichment classes: Spanish, Technology, Art, Music, Physical Education, Gifted Art (by test results) and Library
Fifth grade offers many field trips and special events: SeaWorld San Antonio, Vermillionville in Lafayette, Chemistry demonstration, “building” atoms, elements and compounds out of gumdrops and other creative materials, innovative book reports (through making a book related game, dioramas, etc.), biome research projects, American History class projects, student created American History Power Point presentations, Honor Choir, Basketball and Track teams for boys and girls, Library Club, log cabin project, D.A.R.E. and much more!
