Intermediate Enrichments

STEM Students will do projects that will grow from what they learned in the lower levels. In this part of their STEM careers, Students will dive into coding, circuits, and 3D design. Students will have group projects in which they need to do research, build prototypes, and figure out how to improve upon their prototypes to reach the final goal set for them

Music The Intermediate School music program strengthens students’ musical knowledge and provides opportunities for students to demonstrate learned skills Students will develop knowledge and skills related to the elements of music, such as music notation, rhythmic dictation, dynamics, tempo, meter, expressive qualities, performance, singing, orchestral instruments and musicians. These skills will be demonstrated in classroom activities

Art Students in fourth and fifth grade build on the skills they learned from previous years to hone their technical abilities in various art mediums. Through hands-on projects students continue their art making journey in fibers, paper mache, plaster, wire, recyclable materials, natural materials, installation, pastels, painting, drawing and printmaking. With these repeated exposures to various mediums students prepare for the TAB approach in middle school where they will have the freedom to propose and execute self-directed projects

Spanish The Spanish curriculum for the intermediate level is aimed at preparing students for middle school by training a critical eye for linguistic concepts in the target language.

Physical Education

Physical Education at the Intermediate level is an avenue for engaging in developmentally appropriate physical activities designed for children to develop their fitness, gross and fine motor skills to enable them to participate in games, sports and lifetime activities. They learn essential skills to become physically literate. Physical Education activities include Locomotor skills, non-locomotor skills, manipulative skills, and team games and individual activities The curriculum introduces the students to the skills necessary to participate in the Middle School curruculum

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)

The Social-Emotional Learning curriculum at the Intermediate Level is designed to support students in learning the skills and attitudes needed to develop healthy identities, self-awareness, and social awareness It also teaches students the important skills needed for managing emotions, feeling and showing empathy for others, establishing and maintaining supportive relationships, and making responsible and caring decisions Through this work, students begin to deepen their understanding of themselves and others, take pride in their identity, foster inclusivity, and become a productive member of the community

Media Studies

The 4th and 5th Grade Media Studies curriculum scaffolds students ability to research information in text to research online. Students are taught how to be a digital citizen, how to create a clean digital footprint, and the importance of being safe online. Furthermore, students will apply their learning by creating a variety of projects ranging from iMovies, interactive timelines, digital posters, and more.

Grades 1-3 Program and Course Studies Descriptions (Primary and Montessori)

Primary Grades 1-3 Program:

The grades one to three primary program uses a child centered approach that is rooted in the SSJ mission and highlights shared responsibility, independence, and love of learning. Students take passionate ownership of their learning. Teachers create an environment where students are guided through whole group, small group, and one on one instruction Collaboration within the class and across grade levels provides opportunities for interdisciplinary exploration. Our classrooms lay the academic foundation to prepare students for lifelong learning fostering curiosity, empathy, and twenty first century skills

Montessori Grades 1-3 Program:

The Junior Level Montessori 6-9 year old experience is one of individually paced learning where students think critically, become engaged and enthusiastic learners, and take responsibility for their own education. Using beautifully crafted, naturalistic materials the students can explore and discover meaning through movement and multi-age collaboration Our Montessori program follows the path set forth by Dr. Maria Montessori and continues her legacy in philosophy and practice to foster independence, accountability, and passion for their own educational path.

Course Descriptions

Primary

ELA/ Language Norwood Fontbonne Academy’s Primary English Language Arts (ELA) program uses a Reading and Writing Workshop model. Through the use of teacher-read mentor texts, shared texts, and active independent reading, reading strategies are taught through mini-lessons and practiced independently Students in primary grades focus on building phonemic awareness, phonics and word recognition, fluency, and vocabulary through a systematic, multisensory approach By providing explicit instruction, teachers focus on a writer’s craft and create a predictable, safe environment where students take ownership of their writing, share their writing, and become competent with the writing process (planning, drafting, revising, editing, publishing).

Students are exposed to a variety of genres including fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. All students are encouraged to see themselves as readers and writers and develop a love of the

Montessori

The Montessori Language curriculum focuses on communication and building understanding through words. Using a constructivist, concrete-to-abstract approach we focus on phonics as the foundation to build an understanding of the written and spoken language We emphasize the importance of grammar through symbols and storytelling that denote meaning and create a practical understanding of the function of words The teacher serves as a guide to further the intrinsic flow of learning written word

● Workshop model for reading and writing

● Guided Reading and Literature Circles

● Phonics and spelling program to develop strong understanding of English language

Math Norwood Fontbonne Academy’s Primary Math Program pushes students to build independence with math skills, persist through challenges, and apply math to the real world Students develop a positive relationship with themselves and mathematics through the various components of math class. At the primary level, students will focus on mastering basic math facts and gaining confidence solving multistep problems. Stepping into a primary math class, you will see students engaging with manipulatives to gain a concrete understanding of abstract mathematical concepts. Students are challenged to explain their mathematical thinking while engaging in discussion about their strategies and approaches to various problems

● Place Value and number sense

● Number relationships including basic facts and computation

● Concrete Skills: time, money, measurement

● Fractions

● Geometry

● Focus on problem solving, representation, communication, reasoning and proof, and connections within a mathematical world

Science The science program at Norwood Fontbonne Academy integrates scientific concepts with literacy skills. Students develop critical thinking through hands-on exploration, investigation, and collaboration. Inquiry guides young scientists to draw conclusions about life, physical, and earth science concepts.

- Matter and Its Interactions

- Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

- Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity

The Montessori Math curriculum emphasizes the importance of logic, order, and reasoning Using a beautiful set of materials in order to cultivate their critical thinking skills, children build their higher-level abstract understanding of numbers and patterns. The child will spend time learning how to apply their knowledge with a degree of precision to real world situations.

- Earth’s Systems

- Engineering Design

Social Studies Norwood Fontbonne Academy’s primary social studies curriculum provides students with a background in government, economics, geography, and history with the goal of creating global citizens Students participate in map navigation and creation, study of:

- Civics and Government

- Principles and Documents of Government

- Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship

- How Government Works

- Economics

- Scarcity and Choice

- Geography

- Basic Geography Literacy

- Human Characteristics of Places and Regions

- Physical Characteristics of Places and Regions

- History:

- Pennsylvania history

- United States history

- Significant state and country symbols

Culture

The Montessori Culture curriculum is designed to build an understanding of the interconnectivity of the world and global citizenship of each child Children develop a grade level understanding of environmental relationships and their place in the universe Through self choice, open exploration and self correcting materials, the child will apply their knowledge of global oneness to solve problems, build resilience, and formulate a moral awareness. Culture in the Montessori room encompasses the study of botany, zoology, geology, history, and political and physical geography.

Religion Religion classes at Norwood Fontbonne Academy

● Catholic Sacrament preparation for grade 2, including the sacraments of Reconciliation and First Eucharist

● Understanding the aspects of the mass and names for people and sacramentals in the church

● Bible stories

● Liturgical Seasons, meaning and traditions

● Chapel Experience

○ Prayer Etiquette

○ Reflections

● Service-learning opportunities and special projects centered around the cohort theme of Unioning Love.

Grades 1-3 Enrichments

STEM Grades 1st - 3rd STEM program introduces the LAUNCH cycle of design thinking. Students will start by learning how to work together to solve various problems, learning that there are different roles needed in every group. From there, students will learn how to use various engineering tools they will encounter in their STEM careers and eventually use them to build larger projects Students will also spend some time learning the basics of coding These early stages will help them with projects not only in the STEM classroom but through all their academia

Music Grades 1st-3rd music program strengthens students’ musical knowledge and provides opportunities for students to demonstrate learned skills Students will develop knowledge and skills related to the elements of music such as dynamics, tempo, rhythm, pitch, tone poems, musical stories, instruments of the orchestra, echo singing and vocals These skills will be demonstrated in classroom activities

Art In art class, students in the first, second and third grade primary and JLM levels get messy and engage in the art making process through hands-on projects The teacher introduces different mediums, artists and techniques to expose students to the rich history of fine art Students have hands-on experiences with fibers, paper mache, plaster, wire, recyclable materials, natural materials, installation, pastels, painting, drawing and printmaking Through exposure to these mediums students build a foundation of abilities, which they will eventually use as a springboard for self-directed projects in middle school.

Spanish The elementary level Spanish program continues to build on the child’s foundation for foreign language learning. After we review and expand on all elements introduced at the preschool/kindergarten levels, we develop Spanish language skills in conversation, writing, song, prayer, movement, and global perspective.

Physical Education Physical Education at the lower elementary level is an avenue for engaging in

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) developmentally appropriate physical activities designed for children to develop their fitness, gross and fine motor skills to enable them to participate in games They learn essential skills to become physically literate Physical Education activities include Locomotor skills, non-locomotor skills, manipulative skills, balance and dance They learn modified games and sports The curriculum leads the students to participate in the Intermediate grades curriculum

The Social-Emotional Learning curriculum at the Elementary Level is designed to support students in learning the developmentally appropriate skills and attitudes needed in order to develop healthy identities, self-awareness, and social awareness It also teaches students the important skills needed for managing big emotions, feeling and showing empathy for others, developing the skills to create and identify positive and supportive relationships, and making responsible and caring decisions. Through this work, students begin to deepen their understanding of themselves and others, take pride in themselves and their uniqueness, foster inclusivity, and become a productive member of the community

Ages 3-5 Program and Course Studies Descriptions (Primary and Montessori)

Pre-Primary and Kindergarten Program:

In our Pre-Primary program (ages 3 and 4) and Kindergarten (age 5) our students progress through the curriculum in a teacher-directed environment that encourages interaction, exploration, and investigation. In first, second, and third grade, students learn the critical skills of decision-making and responsibility as teachers guide them through their academic subjects (Reading, Writing, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Religion) and enrichment classes using themed projects and independent learning centers.

Montessori Ages 3-6 Program:

The Montessori 3-6 Curriculum offers children five key areas of study: Practical Life, Sensorial, Mathematics, Language, and Culture. Each learning area is made up of a set of Montessori materials that each teach one key knowledge area or skill Montessori teachers present key lessons to introduce children to the name and learning outcomes of each Montessori material. After a key lesson, the children work independently with the Montessori material to practice, explore, and make connections to learning outcomes During this time, Montessori teachers stand back, observe how the children are learning, and document their progress. A teacher will only intervene if needed, to encourage children’s independence, as there is a direct link between children’s sense of empowerment and their ability to retain new skills and information New lessons are provided when a child is ready to progress to the next stage. Through repetition and practice, children master the progression of the Montessori Materials and develop a fundamental understanding of each curriculum

ELA/ Language

Through Age 5 Course Studies Descriptions

Primary Montessori

The primary path provides explicit phonemic awareness taught through Heggerty utilizing a multi-sensory approach. This approach allows students to hear and work the sounds in words within the phonemic awareness lessons, then match the sound to print during phonics instruction Our hands-on and direct phonics instruction is taught through the Wilson’s Fundations curriculum Readers and Writer’s Workshop models employed through the Schoolwide, Inc Reading and Writing Fundamentals and Handwriting Without Tears curriculums Literacy concepts are taught and practiced in multiple ways (whole group, small group, and individualized interventions) to target multiple learning styles. Students have opportunities to meaningfully engage with content and practice skills and strategies through sensory bins, differentiated literacy centers, and dramatic play. Teachers provide both guidance and immediate feedback during practice so that correct responses are reinforced.

PrePrimary Series Followed:

● Learning without Tears

● Varied Literature

● Scholastic News: My Big World

● Wilson’s Fundations

Kindergarten Series Followed:

● Reading and Writing Fundamentals (Schoolwide, Inc.)

● Fundations Level K (Wilson)

● Varied Literature

Math Norwood Fontbonne Academy’s Primary Math Program is designed to help learners move from basic conceptual understandings towards mastery of specific skills and then apply that knowledge to real-world scenarios and experiences Students are provided different

Montessori Language exercises focus on increasing listening skills, comprehension, and vocabulary. Listening skills develop through Oral Language, Pre-Reading and exploration of sound activities Developing strong vocabulary sets the foundation for communication and increased reading and writing skills. All of these skills lead to the Montessori concept of Total Reading, as the child’s decoding activities lead to a full understanding of the author’s intent

● Oral Language Activities

○ Oral Language -

■ stories, book corner, poetry, rhymes,finger plays, story awareness

○ Picture Story

○ Nomenclature/Vocabulary

● Writing

○ Auditory perception

○ Basic orientation

○ Visual perception

○ Visual discrimination

○ Classification

● Writing

○

● Reading

○ Phonics

○ Puzzle Words

○ Little Books

○ Reading Folders

■ Special Sounds

● Total Reading

Montessori 3-6 Math Materials create tactile mathematical experiences for the child. The child uses concrete materials that isolate each mathematical concept Montessori Math Materials allow the child to use their sense of touch to grasp mathematical concepts of quantity. The mathematical concepts covered in the Carriage House are numeration, the decimal system, contexts for students to develop a strong mathematical foundation

Our early childhood math program includes:

● Numeracy skills, addition and subtraction with a focus on base 10 concepts

● Enabling recognition of flat and solid shapes and their properties

● Strengthening fluency in basic measurements

● Sorts more complex objects into categories; explains reasoning

● Uses concepts of spatial relationships and ordering

● Use of hands-on materials, digital resources, and projects for instruction

● To enable students to think, reason and communicate mathematically.

● To provide different contexts for students to develop a strong sense of number and to master numerical skills.

Stepping into a primary math class, you will see students engaging with manipulatives to gain a concrete understanding of abstract mathematical concepts Students are challenged to explain their mathematical thinking while engaging in discussion about their strategies and approaches to various problems

Science The science program at Norwood Fontbonne Academy pushes students to

- Matter and Its Interactions

- Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

- Earth’s Systems

- Engineering Design computation, the arithmetic tables, fractions, and positive numbers Arithmetic is the process of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Additional work is introduced with the number chains–which are separate chains of beads one through ten–that demonstrate squares and cubes of numbers Children love to skip count using these bead chains, which forms the concrete basis of the multiplication tables The simultaneous learning of numeration, decimal structure, and computation are fundamental in any Montessori environment

PreMath Skills and Concepts

○ Skills of order, concentration, coordination, independence

● Logical Quantifications

○ Encouraging thinking in mathematics

○ Number Concepts

● Quantities and Symbols

● Decimal System 1-1000

● Linear Counting

● Addition

● Multiplication

● Subtraction

● Division

● Paths to Abstraction

Social Studies

Norwood Fontbonne Academy’s primary social studies curriculum provides students with a background in connecting in communities Students participate in the study of:

- Civics and Government

- Principles and Documents of Government

- Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship

- How Government Works

- Economics

- Scarcity and Choice

- Economic Independence

- Geography

- Basic Geography Literacy

- Human Characteristics of Places and Regions

- Physical Characteristics of Places and Regions

- Interactions between People and the Environment

- History:

- Pennsylvania history

- United States history

- Significant state and country symbol

Practical Life Practical Life Activities are the activities of everyday life

The child observes these activities and gains knowledge through the real experience of accomplishing life skills in a purposeful way. The activities involve four areas: Care of Self, Care of the Environment, Grace & Courtesy, and Control of Movement All activities in Practical Life support the development of order, concentration, coordination, independence, and control of movement Food Preparation is an integral part of Practical Life as children have opportunities to juice oranges, peel hard boiled eggs, prepare apples, and peel carrots.

● Grace and Courtesy

● Fine motor development

● Control of Movement

● Care of Self

● Care of Environment

● Food Preparation

Sensorial Montessori Sensorial exercises focus on developing your child’s ability to understand and adapt to their surroundings This area of learning includes the manipulation of specifically designed Montessori materials that isolate the senses. Exposure to sensory information, such as dimension, color, shape, texture, smell, and taste, helps your child classify and categorize the things around them as they explore their world Sensorial exercises allow your child to refine each of their senses of Sight (visual), Touch (tactile), Smell (olfactory), Taste (gustatory), Sound (auditory), and Stereognostic (kinesthetic)

● Visual Sense

○ Size, color, form

● Muscular-Tactile

○ Surfaces, textures, stereognosis, temperature, pressure

● Auditory sense

● Olfactory Sense

● Gustatory Sense

Culture Montessori Cultural exercises focus on allowing your child to experience their place in the world and gain an appreciation and respect for differences These exercises explore their culture and others while teaching that all beings are fundamentally related This area of learning helps your child discover the world around them and understand their own significance in it. Cultural exercises explore a variety of topics, such as: Geography, Zoology, Science, Botany, Art, and Music

● Cosmic Education

● Ecology Theory (Stewards of the Earth)

● Geology

● Botany

● Zoology

● Cultures of the World

○ Physical

○ Political

● History

○ Timelines - personal, communal

○ Art, Music

● Science

Religion

● Seeds Activity Booklets

● Bible Stories

● Saints

● Feast Days of Saints and Holy Days

● Good Citizenship

● Respect for others

● Kindness