ACADEMICS

Curriculum, Grades 1-8

Religion
Students learn religion daily in our developmentally appropriate curriculum and through our yearly school themes that are tied into the practices of our Catholic faith. Lessons taught from the Blest are We series gives students experiential learning in prayer, Scripture, worship, traditions, sacraments, family life, and service to the community.

Coordinated by the parish religious education director, sacrament preparation occurs in 2nd grade (Reconciliation & First Eucharist) and 8th grade (Confirmation). Reconciliation is also celebrated by grades 3 – 8 during Advent and Lent.

Grade groups weekly participate with the parish community in a morning Mass. All school Masses planned by buddy grade groups are celebrated 6-7 times a year. The primary also participate in a prayer service planned by a certain homeroom each week.


Reading/Language Arts
From preschool on, students engage in the process of learning to read to reading to learn. Phonics, comprehension strategies, vocabulary development, inferences, critical thinking skills, and written response enable students to achieve in all areas of study. In the early grades universal benchmark screening is done three times a year followed by classroom and small group teaching to strengthen necessary pre-reading and reading skills. Students move from Guided Reading with leveled readers to class study and independent reading of fiction and nonfiction literature. Instruction is also given in grammar, writing, spelling and oral presentation and is applied across the curriculum.

K – 3rd grade uses a leveled reading series. Class novel study and literature circles begins in third grade and continue through 8th grade along with strengthening reading skills in non-fiction and content area reading. Some examples of novels read at each grade level are as follows: 3rd – Honus and Me and Shoshone Girl, 4th – Shiloh and Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson, 5th – Bridge to Terabithia and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, 6th – Dragon Wings and the D’Aularies Book of Greek Myths, 7th – Touching Spirit Bear and Shakespeare Stealer, and 8th – Swallowing Stones and To Kill a Mockingbird.

Mathematics
Students’ math skills in computation, estimation, geometry and measurement, data analysis and probability, problem solving, logic, and articulation of concepts are spiraled at each grade level through sixth grade. In Grades 3 – 6, students continuously review concepts learned through the Simple Solutions Math that is used in conjunction with the textbook. Based on pre-assessment, 7th grade classes are divided into two levels for pre-Algebra and eighth grade is divided into levels for Algebra allowing some students to pursue advanced placement in high school.

Each summer, students leave with a math packet prepared by the teachers that offers review of important math concepts from the past year’s curriculum along with challenging and fun math related activities. All completed math packets are to be brought back to school in the Fall.

Social Studies
Theme based units in the primary grades and text book and project based learning in third grade and up focus on community, government, economics, United States’ regions, ancient civilizations, Medieval and Renaissance periods, American history, and the IL and U.S. Constitutions. Eighth graders participate in the Chicago Metro History Fair; students have advanced to the State and National competitions. Geography, current events, and field trips are integrated into every grade level including a day trip to Springfield to coincide with study of the Il Constitution. A finance class is also offered for eighth graders.

Science
St. Giles uses an integrated science curriculum of life science, physical science, and earth science. Topics are coordinated across the grade levels and emphasis is put on inquiry based learning, the scientific method, lab reports, vocabulary development, content reading, and current science. A science lab is available for grades 4 – 8 and the primary is equipped with apparatus for demonstration and experiments in the classroom. Field trips support the curriculum. Seventh graders participate in the Chicago Science Fair, and students each year advance to the Regional and Illinois state competition. Some major topics studied are as follows: Preschool- personal hygiene, weather and seasons, plants and animals;, Kindergarten – the ocean, seasons, magnetism, animals; 1st – reptiles, mammals and amphibians, dinosaurs, water, and the five senses; 2nd – Plants/trees, ocean animals, the Earth, and body systems; 3rd – living things and their habitats, Earth, matter, work and machines, and staying healthy; 4th – ecosystems, solar system, matter, digestive, circulatory, and nervous systems, and gardening; 5th – animal classification, reproduction and heredity, Earth’s resources and changes, climate and weather, the atom, laws of motion, and respiratory and circulatory systems; 6th – cells, biomes, earth processes, hat and matter, nervous and endocrine systems; 7th – waves and light, cell reproduction and DNA, the skeletal, circulatory, respiratory, excretory and digestive systems, and nutrition; and 8th – atomic structure and the periodic table, chemical bonds and chemical reactions, force and motion, change through time, and astronomy.

Computer Skills and Technology
Based on NETS standards, students learn computer skills and applications integrated with classroom curriculum Two staffed labs serve the Kindergarten – 3rd and 4th – 8th grades as well as having computers in the classrooms. LCD projectors and Smart Boards are also available for each grade level. By the end of eighth grade, students have demonstrated skills in keyboarding, word processing, internet searching, spreadsheets, Power point, multimedia presentations, creating web pages and pod casts and use of other Web2 tools. Students on the Tech Team work with teachers to create lessons to better integrate technology in their teaching,

Foreign Language
St. Giles moved from an extra-curricular program to teaching Spanish within the curriculum for grades 1 - 8 in 2007-2008. Two teachers share the responsibility of teaching twice a week classes to the primary, 4th – 8th students, and the 8th grade advanced students who were part of the former program. Each year the students vote on one Spanish speaking country to be their focus of cultural study.

Art/Music
Grades K – 8 engage in art and music education once a week. Art education aspires to bring out the artist in every student through projects using various techniques and media. Art Appreciation volunteers extend the learning in curricular areas. In Music, students engage in singing, music theory, playing recorders, composing using Garage Band or Finale Note Pad, and the study of musicians. St. Giles offers a fee based band program that involves 4th – 8th graders in five bands. Band members lend their talent to our yearly Christmas Pageant and to our liturgical choirs. The 8th grade yearly puts on a drama production.

Physical Education
Physical education emphasizes individual effort, personal fitness, skill development, and teamwork. Students are taught to monitor their own well being within each activity and to appreciate the contribution of all team members. After school intramurals are organized for all grade levels as well as a summer program.

Academics: Our Commitment to Excellence

Striving for academic excellence requires ongoing enhancements to the program. This year St. Giles School has made numerous curriculum enhancements as well as providing for professional growth training.

This year curriculum enhancements include:

• Purchased and implemented the Scott Foresman Reading Street series for Kindergarten through Grade 2,

and the Houghton Mifflin Reading series for Grade 3.

• Added the Simple Solutions Math Program to supplement current Math curriculum for Grades 4-6.
• Digitized the Primary Library. Purchased a mounted LCD projector in the Primary Computer Lab, and

additional computers and software.

• Installed interactive Smart Boards in Science Lab, two classrooms, and purchased two other mobile smart
boards. A 27 unit Netbook cart is also available for the 4th-8th unit.

• Added a second full-day Kindergarten classroom.

• Adopted the third edition of Terra Nova Multiple Assessment Standardized test.

Adopted Glencoe 6-8 Science texts and 7-8 Social Studies texts.

Professional growth for staff is a priority
• Trained teachers on tiered lessons and formative assessments for differentiated instruction.
• Initiated a year-long training on Differentiating for the Gifted Child.
   • Completed a two year Teaching with Macs laptop program for teachers.
   • Received Smart Board and NetTrekker search engine training.
   • Participated in Catechetical Conference, Festival of Faith and Mandated Reporter training.
• Trained teachers on the school's Student Information System, Powerschool.

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