STUDENT PROGRAMMING

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Grades Kindergarten through 5th grade are the traditional self-contained classrooms. The maximum class size is 24 students. These grade levels include classes in math, reading, language, science, history and Bible. The ABeka Christian curriculum, which is a strong phonics program, is taught in the lower elementary grades. Additional publishers include Houghton Mifflin, Scott Foresman, and Prentice Hall. Both ABeka and A.C.S.I. Bible curriculum plus Standard Publishing are used for Bible. Special classes will also be taught in the following:

• Music: Students will study theory, history, reading of music and singing.
• Computers: Students will be introduced to computers, basic keyboarding and an introduction to basic word processing.
• Art: The Meet the Masters Program will be presented and various art expressions will be experienced.
• Spanish: Basic conversational Spanish will be introduced in 4th grade and continued through 6th grade.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Grades 6-8 grade are set up in a traditional style of students changing classes for their different academic periods. The maximum class size is 24-28. All middle school classes have Bible, Language Arts and the following:

All students have P.E. each week, which meets the state requirement for physical education. Our math program is a two-tiered program. Sixth grade math, pre-Algebra, and Algebra are offered at regular and high (plus) levels. Testing, grades, and teacher recommendations are used for placement. Electives may include art, computers, robotics, cooking, sewing, woodshop, ceramics, student council, oil painting, aerobics, teacher’s aide, or musical theatre or multi-media presentations. Electives are for one trimester and may vary from trimester to trimester.

KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM

Our kindergarten program is for the child who is developmentally ready for a more formal structured school environment. Classes meet five days a week from 8:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Kids' Overtime (loving child care) is available before and after school starting at 7:00 a.m. and ending at 6:00 p.m. An environment is provided that promotes learning and fosters growth in the Christian faith.

The kindergarten program emphasis is on:

1. character foundation training in traditional values, good citizenship and respect for the individual;

2. promotion of developmental and emotional skills through learning centers, science, physical education, computer, Spanish and art curriculum as well as participation in Christmas and spring musicals, monthly field trips, hot lunch program and seasonal classroom parties;

3. academic excellence by introducing a reading program based on phonetic concepts, number awareness and addition families through 10, writing skills and much more;

4. parent participation

FIRST CHRISTIAN
EARLY CHILDHOOD
DEVELOPMENT CENTER JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN

The E.C.D.C. Jr. Kindergarten program is designed to allow children to grow and develop in their own space and time to their fullest potential giving him every opportunity to function well in kindergarten. This program is five days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. The class size is limited to 12 students. The Jr. Kindergarten curriculum is designed to emphasize independent and self-confident behavior in each child. The A Beka curriculum is used to introduce phonics sounds. Gross motor activities are highly stressed.

READINESS FOR KINDERGARTEN

Our school focuses attention for determining a child’s readiness for kindergarten by using developmental age as the criterion for school placement instead of the usual criterion of chronological age.

Rather than looking at the child in terms of intelligence or chronological age or academic achievement, the concept of developmental age attempts to understand the child at the present level of functioning which includes physical, intellectual, social and emotional growth. One has to ask if the child can cope with the large school building, classmates, waiting in line, following rules and schedules, and being able to sit and give attention to a directed lesson or working independently. A child needs maturity to cope and learn at the same time. A child who is not ready will spend time using energy trying to cope with all the distractions in a classroom and have little energy remaining for learning.

A child can be superior mentally and not be mature enough for the stresses of the school day. Children may fool us into thinking they are ready for kindergarten because they are verbal and learn quickly. Knowing numbers, letters, colors, or even being able to read does not mean that they are developmentally ready for school. We must be careful not to confuse intelligence with readiness as they are not the same.

The recommendation that your child not attend our kindergarten is not an indication that either the parent or the child has failed. Through the process of living and growing another year, the child will become ready for school. It is most important to realize that there is no way the growing process can be rushed by anyone. Pushing and hurrying tend to put a child’s natural development out of balance.

The Gesell School Readiness Test measures the developmental age of a child. It allows us to determine a child’s readiness for school and make decisions regarding school placement. The test is based on a set of norms obtained by examining thousands of children at every age level and is scored in terms of age and not in terms of points or percentages. Research has shown that when students are developmentally placed some dramatic results are seen:

1. retention in lower grades is virtually eliminated;

2. remedial staff and materials are not needed;

3. reading scores are improved;

4. more self-esteeming behaviors are seen in children.

Studies by the Gesell Institute state that as many as “50% of students with school problems today, have them because of over placement.” Many children struggle in first and second grade and burn out in junior high. “If a child is given the time before starting school to grow, he will not need to take a ‘time-out’ later.”

Children who are not developmentally ready for kindergarten have the option to enter the Jr. Kindergarten program at First Christian Early Childhood Development Center. They may enter the H.C.S. Kindergarten program the following year.