Curriculum Used At Shepherd Lutheran School 2018-2019
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Curriculum Used At Shepherd Lutheran School
2018-2019
Reading
Grades K-2 “The Superkids Reading Program” by Rowland Reading Foundation
A large body of evidence confirms that systematic, explicit phonics is the most critical
component of beginning reading instruction. To provide it, educators may choose
stand-alone phonics programs that are specifically designed to teach just phonics, or they
may choose phonics-based programs that provide a strong foundation in phonics while
connecting phonics instruction to reading, writing,
and spelling. We have chosen the phonics-based Superkids Reading Program. The very
foundation of Superkids is systematic, explicit instruction in phonics that follows the
sequence of skills a beginning reader must master. Phonics is the pedagogical foundation
upon which all other skills depend and upon which they
are built. The lively Superkids characters are the vehicle for teaching letter-sounds, and
they are the heart of the beautifully illustrated, decodable stories that children find so
engaging. By the time children complete the Superkids Reading Program, they are truly
ready for the academic materials that await them in the intermediate grades. Forever
after, they can turn to their phonics foundation as they approach unknown words, as all
good readers do. They have mastered the alphabetic principle at the right time, in the
primary grades, and in the right way, with the systematic, explicit instruction of the
Superkids.
Kindergarten focuses on the 26 letters of the alphabet. Students systematically learn to
read and write letters, to associate letters with sounds, to blend letter-sounds to form
words and sentences, and to read and write phonetically regular words as Memory
Words. They read decodable stories and develop their comprehension and vocabulary
through reading.
In first and second grade, students learn more complex letter-sound relationships. They
continue to develop their decoding and encoding skills and read longer stories where
comprehension, vocabulary, and fluency are emphasized. The students are also
challenged to produce complicated expressive writing products. By the end of the final
level of the Superkids Reading Program, students should be confident, independent
readers and writers, ready for intermediate-grade work.
Grades 3-4 “Open Court Reading,” SRA/McGraw Hill
Studies have shown that children learn best when they are taught in a systematic manner.
That is why Open Court Reading provides systematic, explicit instruction for every skilltaught. These skills include instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, and
comprehension word knowledge. This instruction will allow students to learn and
progress at an accelerated rate. The students will form and clearly communicate ideas
about what they read. They will be able to respond intelligently to the high-quality,
authentic literature this program provides.
Students will also experience a book club type atmosphere, by reading different novels
and participating in discussion groups. In these discussion groups each student will have
a specific role that will help further their knowledge and enhance their comprehension.
Roles such as: Discussion Director, Word Watcher, Connector, Summarizer, and
Illustrator.
Grades 6-8 “Literature and the Language Arts,” EMC/Paradigm Publishing
The EMC Masterpiece Series, Literature and the Language Arts contains the most
comprehensive collection of classic literary works available in any series, as well as
current multicultural selections, to captivate the students. In addition, this series
thoroughly models the complete range of literary types and genres: poetry, fiction,
nonfiction, drama, myth, fairytale, fable, parable, legend, tall tale, folk song, and novel.
Vocabulary
Grades 1-2 “MCP PLAID Phonics,” Pearson
Modern Curriculum Press “Plaid” Phonics celebrates 50 years of successfully helping
more than 55 million children learn to read. Its proven scope and sequence, along with
the abundance of practice, review, and application of skills, ensures comprehensive
coverage and supports best practices in phonics instruction.
Grade 3 “Building Language” by Michael Clay Thompson
Building Language provides an introduction to Latin stems as the basis for much of the
English and Spanish languages. Using the analogy of the arch in architecture, the book
explores the Roman roots of our buildings and the Latin roots of our language. Ten
lessons introduce important Latin stems, providing an intellectual key for young students
to understand that big words aren't necessarily hard. It rejects the specious confines of
teaching age-graded vocabulary.
https://www.rfwp.com/series/vocabulary-elementary-program-by-michael-clay-thompson#book-building-lang
uage-1
Grade 4 “Caesar's English I” by Michael Clay Thompson
Caesar's English I contains twenty lessons, each introducing five Latin stems (for
odd-numbered lessons) or five classic words (for even-numbered lessons). Studentsalternate between learning the stems that our academic words are built upon and the
classic words identified by Michael Clay Thompson as being prominently used among
the great writers of English and American literature. Learning activities include
discussions of the stems or classic words, analogies exercises, synonym and antonym
exercises, Spanish cognates that use the same stems as those used in the English words,
Latin sayings with translations, short biographies of major authors, word searches,
excerpts from Julius Caesar's writings, activities designed to allow students to manipulate
and play with the vocabulary, and more.
https://www.rfwp.com/series/vocabulary-elementary-program-by-michael-clay-thompson#book-building-lang
uage-1
Grade 5 “Caesar’s English II” by Michael Clay Thompson
This book follows the same formula as Caesar’s English I: Classical Education Edition; it
offers twenty lessons that alternate between introducing five Latin stems that are the basis
for many of our academic words and five classic words that have been identified by
Michael Clay Thompson as being prominently used among the great writers of English
and American literature. The book is loaded with vocabulary activities that allow students
to manipulate and play with the stems and words, as well as grammar analyses,
nonfiction writing samples, poetry to help students feel the Roman experience, writing
exercises, math problems using Roman numerals, word searches, and much more. There
is a substantial emphasis on the geography of the Roman world.
https://www.rfwp.com/series/vocabulary-elementary-program-by-michael-clay-thompson#book-caesars-english-ii-clasi
cal-education-edition-student
Grade 6 “The Vocabulary of Literature” b y Michael Clay Thompson
The Vocabulary of Literature contains ten chapters that highlight the most frequently
used words in the classics. Word challenges, grammar exercises, creative readings,
biographies, and photographs of famous authors help students internalize these words and
thereby pave a path to a lifetime’s enjoyment and love of great literature.
Each of the ten lessons presents ten new classic words and ten words brought forward
from Caesar’s English I and Caesar’s English II, so students have 200 powerful words to
learn and use. These are not words chosen arbitrarily for the purpose of a textbook; they
are the words most frequently used in classic literature as identified by MCT’s
painstaking research. They are, therefore, the words that Michael Clay Thompson
believes “must be known as a necessary component of an educated vocabulary.”
The authors featured in this book are Jack London, Jane Austen, Stephen Crane, Mary
Shelley, Frederick Douglass, Henry David Thoreau, Rachel Carson, Mark Twain, Charles
Dickens, and George Eliot.
And because we love literature and visiting writers’ houses, we have included not onlytheir portraits but also our photographs of where they wrote and with what, including
Jane Austen’s tiny writing table and Dickens’s desk. Jane Austen’s house is featured on
the cover of the student book; Rudyard Kipling’s house is on the teacher manual.
https://www.rfwp.com/series/vocabulary-elementary-program-by-michael-clay-thompson#book-the-vocabulary-of-liter
ature
Grade 7 “The Word Within the Word I” by Michael Clay Thompson
The Word Within the Word I is a rigorous vocabulary text that contains thirty lessons
filled with readings and activities to illustrate the important role of Latin and Greek stems
in academic English. The first twenty lessons offer a list of twenty-five stems, along with
several example words that contain each stem, and the last ten lessons provide
twenty-five words that students will need to be familiar with to navigate through
advanced academic endeavors.
Each lesson contains discussions and illustrations that offer students a greater
understanding of the classical roots of the English language. Much of the text is meant
only to be read, with exercises interspersed that students or instructors can choose from to
help solidify the knowledge through manipulation of the vocabulary.
In addition, we present an extensive discussion of the history of Greece in the Classical
Period from 490 to 323 B.C. Each lesson contains an essay, written by Dr. Thomas
Kemnitz, about the ancient Greeks. These essays introduce students to Darius and
Xerxes, Leonidas and Themistocles, Cimon and Pericles, the Spartans and the Athenians,
the Peloponnesian and Delian Leagues, Athenian democracy and Spartan oligarchy,
Alcibiades and Socrates, and finally Philip and Alexander of Macedonia. The writings are
enhanced with maps, timelines, and scores of photographs taken by Dr. Kemnitz of Greek
buildings, sculptures, and artifacts.
There is an enormous amount of historical material in this book, including descriptions of
how the Spartans lived, the strategies of various battles, the functioning of democracy
and the jury system in Athens, the practice of ostracism, the importance of the navy in
Athens, the Spartan system of education, and the building of the glorious Parthenon on
the Acropolis in Athens. Interspersed among the activity pages are vignettes of aspects of
life in ancient Greece as depicted in vases, statuettes, and artifacts so that we learn not
only about helmets and shields but also about hairstyles, musical instruments, and sports.
https://www.rfwp.com/series/vocabulary-elementary-program-by-michael-clay-thompson#book-the-vocabulary-of-liter
ature
Grade 8 “The Word Within the Word II”
The Word Within the Word II takes up where Volume I left off and continues to illustrate
to students the benefits of knowing Latin and Greek stems. Once students know what a
stem means, they are able to figure out the meanings of several other words that contain
that stem, even if those words are ones that they have never seen before.In this book, each of the thirty lessons begins with a list of stems, along with their
meanings and words that contain them, followed by a list of advanced academic words
that contain the stems in the list. There are ten new words in each lesson, as well as five
words brought forward from The Word Within the Word I.
As in Volume I, there are numerous activities in each lesson, many of which simply
involve reading and thinking and discussing the facts and ideas presented. Activities
allow students to play with the words, to see them in context, and to understand their
grammatical function.
Whereas Volume I included extensive essays on the ancient Greeks, Volume II provides
substantial discussion of the Roman Republic. This is the period in which Rome rose
from a small mud village ruled by kings to the most powerful entity in the Mediterranean
world. It looks at the history, people, institutions, and army that made this rise possible.
There are more than a hundred photographs in the book, along with discussions of such
topics as the toga, Roman food, and educational practices, in which frequent beatings
were considered an aid to understanding.
https://www.rfwp.com/series/vocabulary-elementary-program-by-michael-clay-thompson#book-the-vocabulary-of-liter
ature
Spelling
Grades 1-8 “Logic of English,” P edia Learning Inc. Logic of English®
The Logic of English is a systematic, multi-sensory approach to learning how to read,
spell and write. The method is based upon 74 basic phonograms and 31 spelling rules that
together explain 98% of English words. Learning these essential tools eliminates
unnecessary ‘exceptions’ in spelling, explains hundreds of commonly misspelled words,
and brings order to the English language. We do not use any sight words; instead,
students learn why words are read and spelled the way they are.
Our curriculum does not stop at the level of sounds, as do many systematic phonics
programs. Instead, we incorporate the meanings of roots, suffixes, and prefixes, providing
students with the tools to unlock hundreds of thousands of words. Logic of English
curriculum also incorporates sentence-level grammar, punctuation rules, tenses, plurals
and more. Students learn to read and write in English in a systematic manner that
eliminates guessing and limits the amount of rote memory work. They develop strong
comprehension and critical thinking skills as they analyze words, think about meaning,
and make connections to other words and concepts. In every lesson, multi-sensory
instruction and activites engage the different centers of students' brains - visual, auditory,
kinesthetic, and speech - which allows them to deepen their learning as they build
connections, use their strengths, and strengthen their areas of weakness. We teach thisway because research shows that it works. Our goal is to make success in reading
available to every student.
https://www.logicofenglish.com/about
Grades 3&4 Spelling City supplement
Grades 3&4 will also use the online program SpellingCity.com to help with the repetition
of practicing; word spelling, phonics, vocabulary meaning, and usage. This program has
been proven to improve student spelling and understanding of words.
https://www.spellingcity.com/
Language
Grades K-2 hurley Instructional Materials
“The Shurley Method/English Made Easy,” S
Students will master grammar at a level beyond normal curriculum requirements using
the Shurley Method. Best of all, they will experience no frustration, only success. This
series will give students a solid skill foundation from which to build advanced writing
and speaking skills. The students will learn how all sentence parts fit together to make
sense and express an idea. They will learn how to express their own ideas through formal
and creative writing.
Grades 3 “Grammar Island” b y Michael Clay Thompson
Grammar Island introduces, in a simple fashion, the full four-level grammar analysis of
(1) parts of speech, (2) parts of sentences, (3) phrases, and (4) clauses.
Using color to reinforce the lessons, the book offers grammar in child-friendly ways, with
an array of strategies to make sophisticated material dynamic and fun.
Each page focuses on a single concept, and the teaching approach is to read together with
children, talk about the concepts, ask questions, refer back to the text, and respond to
questions before venturing further.
https://www.rfwp.com/series/grammar-elementary-program-by-michael-clay-thompson#book-grammar-island-1
Grade 4 “Grammar Town” b y Michael Clay Thompson
Grammar Town builds on the foundation presented in Grammar Island and offers
increasingly sophisticated concepts with the theme set in a townscape. It continues the
full four-level grammar of (1) parts of speech, (2) parts of sentences, (3) phrases, and (4)
clauses.
https://www.rfwp.com/series/grammar-elementary-program-by-michael-clay-thompson#book-grammar-island-1Grades 5-8 “The Magic Lens I” b y Michael Clay Thompson
The Magic Lens I is entirely based on four-level sentence analysis. This analysis of parts
of speech, parts of sentence, phrases, and clauses is Michael Clay Thompson's original
and enormously successful approach to teaching grammar. It uses his beautiful
"t-models" to illustrate how sentences are constructed and includes a detailed look at how
grammar affects punctuation.
https://www.rfwp.com/series/grammar-elementary-program-by-michael-clay-thompson#book-grammar-island-1
Grades 5-8 The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation by Jane Straus, Jossey-Bass
The Blue Book helps students write and speak with confidence. You don’t have to be an
English major to understand grammar and punctuation. You just need rules that are easy
to understand with real-world examples. Dedicated to eliminating unnecessary jargon,
TheBlue Book highlights the most important grammar, punctuation, and apitalization
rules and clarifies the most commonly confused words.
Writing
Grades K-2 hurley Instructional Materials
“The Shurley Method/English Made Easy,” S
Students will master grammar at a level beyond normal curriculum requirements using
the Shurley Method. Best of all, they will experience no frustration, only success. This
series will give students a solid skill foundation from which to build advanced writing
and speaking skills. The students will learn how all sentence parts fit together to make
sense and express an idea. They will learn how to express their own ideas through formal
and creative writing.
Grades 3&4 “Grammar and Writing 3&4” by Curtis Hake
This consumable writing workbook for grades three and four provides approximately 35
lessons covering brainstorming, outlining, re-writing, evaluation, and all the parts of the
complete, well-structured essay. In addition to persuasive essays, expository essays,
research papers, descriptive essays, and personal narratives, students write imaginative
stories, poetry, and responses to literature and informational texts.
http://www.hakepublishing.com/grammar-and-writing.html
Grades 5-8 “The Writing of Literature” by Michael Clay Thompson
The Writing of Literature is Michael Clay Thompson's seventh book about writing, but
unlike the other six books, this one is about literary writing, focusing on the language of
classic fiction and nonfiction. The other writing books are about formal academicwriting: academic essays and research papers—the sort of nonfiction writing that all
students must do in academic courses and in most professions.
Thompson writes in the introduction: "Our task is to see what writing secrets great novels
can teach us about the kind of writing that we do and to absorb writing elements that help
us become great readers.... Classic novelists show us deeper strategies that are not usually
mentioned in school instructions for beginners. One reason the writers of immortal books
are immortal is that they take commonly known writing techniques to uncommon
heights, finding uncommon depth and beauty in the ways they use them."
The book contains practice exercises, essay or discussion topics, and substantial excerpts
to read from classic authors, including nonfiction from James Madison, Mark Twain,
Henry David Thoreau, Herman Melville, William Lloyd Garrison, Elizabeth Cady
Stanton, Ida M. Tarbell, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and W.E.B. Dubois.
It is important to note that this is a second edition, new as of January 2018. It reflects the
current MLA guidelines, which are substantially changed from those that were in
existence when the first edition was written. As a result of those changes, the information
in the first edition is now wrong, and no one should continue to use the first edition.
https://www.rfwp.com/series/writing-program-by-michael-clay-thompson#book-the-writing-of-literature
Math
Grades K-8 “Math in Focus Singapore Math” by Marshall Cavendish
When children can’t find the meaning in numbers and symbols, solving problems is a
struggle. Math in Focus®: Singapore Math® by Marshall Cavendish® © 2018 helps
students make sense of math. Through hands-on learning, visualization, and pictorial
representations, their understanding, confidence, and love of math grows.
Math in Focus, the U.S. edition of the highly effective Singapore Math® curriculum,
provides easy-to-use teaching and learning paths proven to develop students’
foundational understanding. Built on a framework developed by the Singapore Ministry
of Education, it draws on best practices from around the world and highlights problem
solving as the focus of mathematical learning.
https://www.hmhco.com/programs/math-in-focus/overviewScience
Grades K-8 God’s Design, Answers in Genesis (Chemistry and Ecology, Heaven and Earth,
Life, Physical World)
Explore acids, bases and salts, and have fun with food chemistry in the kitchen! Children
will study the molecules, matter, and ecosystems that make up our world and learn about
the tools of science, the scientific method and the periodic table of elements.
Our children see God’s plan for our planet, our solar system, and our universe with this
complete earth and space science curriculum. Students will explore how God designed
the earth to support life from our atmosphere to our oceans. Hands-on activities keep
everyone interested in learning about geology, weather, and space.
Reveal the wonder of God’s creation to your child through the study of plants, animals,
and the human body. This fun and easy-to-use curriculum is ideal for anyone who wants
to teach life science from a biblical, young-earth point of view.
Have fun with electricity, magnetism, and light; learn about machines and technology
with hands-on activities and experiments. This fascinating series covers studies in
motion, energy, and technology.
https://answersingenesis.org/store/product/gods-design-science-curriculum-2016/
Geography
Grades K-8 News Currents (https://www.newscurrents.com)
All grades will take time during the week to study some of the current events going on in
our world today. This gives us an opportunity to remind the students of God’s love for us
even though we live in such a sin filled world. We also explore many of the current
blessings that God showers upon us while we live here on this earth and gives us tools
that we may use to further spread His Gospel message.
Grades 1-2 Maps-Globes-Graphs, Steck-Vaughn Company
Over the first semester, the students will learn how to read and use various maps and
graphs. During the second semester, the students study the states and learn what the
geography and weather are like along with other interesting and unique facts about each
state.Grades 3-5 www.lizardpoint.com, www.sheppardsoftware.com/, other geographical websites
Our geography class studies maps, graphs, and other data. We study United States maps
of states, capitals, and other land features of the United States. In our second year of
study we focus on World maps of countries, cities, and other geographical features that
pair nicely with our history curriculum of Ancient Civilizations.
Grades 5-8
Our geography class studies world geography using CountryReports.com.
The children will learn the fundamentals of history, geography, civics, and economics,
providing a context within which to analyze current events. This knowledge can inform
and encourage their participation in the democratic process. Learning geography skills
and vocabulary is an important part of our program. Our area of study is world
geography.
Grades 5-8 Map Essentials, National Geographic School Publishing
This series develops and reinforces the essential map skills students need to be
geographically literate.
Rand McNally Classroom Atlas
Students are guided to use geographic resources not only to find information but also to
discover patterns, solve problems, and gain understanding of their world. Basic map
skills and knowledge of geographical terms are emphasized.
History
K-1 Social Studies, Frank Schaffer Publications
Over the first semester, the students study different community helpers, historical figures,
buildings, and monuments along with what it means to be a citizen. Over the second
semester, the kindergarteners join the first and second graders studying the states.
Grades 3-4 Uses various presentations and publications
Our history curriculum in grades 3&4 will have a focus on Ancient civilizations as we
look at the historical successes and failures of sinful man. The civilizations we will be
studying are: Ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, Vikings, Medieval times, and
various warriors from history. Through presentations, videos, biblical investigations,
group work and other activities we will see God’s hand as he directs our sinful world to
accomplish his purpose and will for our lives today.Grades 5-8
Our American history class does an in-depth study of the Declaration of
Independence and the Constitution. Our other major areas of study are: the ancient
Puebloan people, the discovery and exploration of America, the founding of the United
States, our major wars, and the Presidents. Through videos which use cinematic
recreations, biographical investigations, and provocative political, military, and economic
analysis, our course of study breathes new life into history.
Religion
All grades use The Holy Bible, New International Version in religious instruction. We
study the well-known lessons of Scripture emphasizing the application of Biblical truths
in the students’ lives. We use a series published by Northwestern Publishing House
titled, “Christ-Light” to further explore the biblical truths of Scripture.
Catechism class will be taught by Pastor Swanson and Mr. Schultz for grades 3-8. They
use Luther’s Small Catechism and the Holy Bible as their tools for study.
Music
Grades K-8
Whereas we do not have a specific music curriculum, our students love music. Our
music classes consist of singing. Through singing, they learn how to sing and also learn
many of the concepts of music. They grow in their appreciation for music.
Art
Grades K-8 Arts Attack, Arts Attack Publications
Arts Attack i s an award-winning video-based art curriculum which provides complete
instruction of all essential elements and principles of art including color, line, shape,
form, texture, pattern, balance, and emphasis. It also provides a thorough introduction to
art history, media exploration, creative self-expression, drawing techniques, and more.
Technology
Grades 2-8
Students in grades 3-8 will have a separate technology class twice a week and the 2nd
graders will have one per week. We have computers for all of our students in our
computer lab where children in grades 3-8 learn keyboarding skills, word processing,
internet skills, internet safety, coding, powerpoint and excel. Students will also have the
opportunity to explore different academic activities such as; Kahoot!, Math Playground,
Khan Academy and the like.You can also read
