Trinity Lutheran School - Sturgis, Michigan

RELIGION
Our classroom religion curriculum is drawn from the CPH Voyages Exploring God's Word series. The first grade curriculum is alternated every other year with the curriculum of second grade. Students learn various Bible stories that emphasize God’s unfolding plan of salvation through Jesus. Old Testament stories tell about man’s fall into sin, God’s promise to send a Savior, and how God’s people looked forward to the fulfillment of this promise. The students then learn from the New Testament about the life of Jesus our Savior and the beginnings of the Christian church. Students daily have the opportunity for worship, singing, and prayer, and lead one chapel service during the year. A planned memory program helps students learn Scripture verses and portions of the Catechism.
Click here for the First Grade Memory Sheets
Click here for the Second Grade Memory Sheets

READING
First grade reading lays the groundwork for students to become successful and confident readers through reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Word recognition skills are taught through phonics instruction, context, and sight words. Comprehension is emphasized, along with basic story structure and skills such as predicting, drawing conclusions, and putting events in sequential order. Students are encouraged to enjoy literature through teacher-read stories and poems, free time reading, and oral reading with the class and reading buddies. Second grade reading reviews many previously introduced phonics and word recognition skills. Children work to become more fluent, independent readers. They practice a variety of comprehension and decoding strategies. Children read a variety of types of literature in the Houghton Mifflin series, other trade books, selected theme materials, and activities designed to require the reading of directions.
ENGLISH
First grade English emphasizes the skills of listening and speaking, the development of grammar skills, and the use of good sentence structure in writing. The steps of the writing process are introduced through writing stories, letters, and book reports. Second grade English is a balance of grammar rules and writing practice. Students learn about nouns, verbs, adjectives, capitalization, and basic punctuation. They practice writing clear, complete sentences. They write short stories with correct sequence and an appropriate number of details. They write letters, instructions, and are introduced to writing paragraphs.
SPELLING
First graders review basic letter sounds and then learn to spell words using spelling patterns. Second graders review words from first grade and then learn to spell words with more complicated spelling patterns. Students are encouraged to develop correct spelling in daily work.
HANDWRITING
First graders learn to write the D’Nealian form of handwriting for all letters Aa-Zz. Second graders master all the D’Nealian letters and are introduced to D’Nealian cursive writing. Emphasis is placed on neatness and legibility.
MATH
Saxon Math is used in first grade math instruction. A daily math meeting teaches important skills such as reading graphs, identifying the correct date, recognizing patterns, and counting. Students are taught different strategies to aid in memorizing number facts. Lessons are reinforced by daily class work and include telling time, counting money, problem solving, and measurement. Using Saxon Math, the second grade program also begins with a daily meeting that reviews concepts such as calendar skills, telling time, counting money, reading a thermometer, and reading graphs. During the year, addition and subtraction facts through 20 are learned. Addition and subtraction of 2-digit numbers are taught, including the concepts of place value and “regrouping”. Multiplication is introduced. Skills and concepts are taught with “hands on” practice and frequent review.
SCIENCE
Science is taught with an emphasis on understanding the world that God made in the context of life, physical, and earth science and health. The first grade program is alternated with the second grade curriculum. Both teach students to predict and think critically.
SOCIAL STUDIES
The first grade and second grade programs are alternated every year. Students learn about their community and the world around them. They learn about farms, towns, cities, and suburbs. Then they are introduced to larger concepts involving their country, their world, and famous people who have made a difference. They also learn the seven continents and are introduced to map reading.
COMPUTERS
First and second grade students learn proper keyboarding skills while using programs that help practice math, reading, and science skills.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
First and second graders will work on such locomotor skills as running, skipping, and galloping. They will learn to practice socially appropriate behavior while playing games with their classmates. They will understand the importance of exercising and keeping the body healthy.
ART
Students will learn the basic vocabulary and concepts of art. They will come to recognize God as the master artist, enjoy creating their own work, and appreciate the work of others. They will also work on using basic skills such as cutting, painting, and tracing to produce art.
MUSIC
In first and second grade, students will begin to understand important characteristics of music such as beat, volume, and speed. They will sing a variety of songs including hymns, fun songs, patriotic songs, holiday songs, and educational songs. They will participate in the school musical.

Jean Kyle