Elementary

St. Theresa Catholic School’s early elementary program plays an important role in our overall educational objectives. A Catholic atmosphere, adapting to school routines, practicing good social skills, and developing a positive attitude toward learning are the four educational cornerstones for our youngest students. Our early elementary teachers are dedicated to helping each student become increasingly independent by promoting self-motivation and initiative.

Kindergarten

Kindergarten age requirement: Must be five (5) years of age on or before September 1

Curriculum
Kindergarten is a full day program that follows the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).  Kindergarten teaches core subject matters including LA, Math, Science/Social Studies and Religion.   

Instruction
Kindergarten students receive instruction in large and small group settings which help foster all learning styles. Small group stations allow for individualized differentiation.  

Kindergarten report cards consist of a grading system based on a 1-4 scale that also identifies social/emotional developmental benchmarks.  Our goal in Kindergarten is to partner with parents to help the student reach their highest potential.

Unique to Kinder 

• There are 2 small kindergarten classes with a max of 20 students that each have their own aide.

• Students experience three (3) exclusive field trips

• Kinder participates in all essentials classes: Art, Spanish, Technology, Music, Library, and PE 

• 50's Day Celebration, Polar Express day

• Participation in class performances, such as Spring weather reports and a small production of the Gettysburg Address in February.

1st Grade

ELA

• Instruction incorporates Five Components of a balanced literacy program – Phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, reading fluency and comprehension

• Lessons integrate reading, spelling, writing, and listening skills

• Concentration on proper letter formation of capital and lower-case letters

• Sentence, paragraph, and short story writing is developed 

MATH

• Counting, reading, writing, ordering and comparing numbers 1 – 120

• Addition and subtraction facts to 20

• Identification, comparison and description of geometric shapes and objects

• Concepts introduced: patterns, time, money, skip counting, place value and graphing

• Emphasis on developing problem solving skills using a variety of methods and strategies

SOCIAL STUDIES

• Student-friendly periodical format with robust online learning platform

• Aligned to TEKS standards and frameworks

• Themes include: National Symbols, Patriots, Texas History, Inventors, Personal Finance, and Cultural Differences

SCIENCE

• McGraw Hill 1 focuses on life science and the children's environment

•  hands-on activities, and exploration

The 1st grade program also includes: Virtue-Based Learning, Spanish, PE, Technology, Art, Music, Drama and Library

Instruction
St. Theresa first grade uses innovative strategies to deliver a comprehensive curriculum to each child.  We incorporate whole group, small group, and individual differentiated instruction to benefit all of our diverse learners.

Unique to 1st Grade at STCS

• Students experience two exclusive field trips 

• Chicken Hatching Project

• May Crowning

• Participation in school-wide service projects 

• An aide that is shared in both classes

2nd Grade

RELIGION

• Celebration of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion

• Provide continued growth for 2nd graders spiritual journey through many different experiences and activities

LANGUAGE ARTS

• Phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, reading fluency and comprehension

• Balanced program with use of anthology and high-interest novel units

• Lessons integrate reading, spelling, writing, and listening skills

• Cursive handwriting is introduced beginning in January

• The five steps of the writing process are introduced and developed: Brainstorming, Prewriting, Revising, Editing, Publishing

• Continued development in writing short stories, informational and expository writing (elaboration to include adjectives and vivid verbs introduction)

MATH

• Place value with identifying numbers to 1,000

• Addition and subtraction with regrouping using 3-digit numbers

• Identification, comparison and description of geometric shapes and objects

• Other concepts continued : patterns, time, money, fractions and graphing

• Introduction of multiplication and division concepts

• Emphasis on continued development problem solving skills using a variety of methods and strategies to solve multi-step problems

SOCIAL STUDIES

• An interactive based curriculum with a focus on communities and the world, to include the history of our own community and country

• Incorporation of many cross-curricular activities

• Thematic based curriculum teaches children through listening, observing, role-playing, building, brainstorming and decision-making

SCIENCE

• Continued emphasis of the scientific process

• Scientific investigations that reach across the curriculum

• Hands-on curriculum explores the areas of life science, Earth science and physical science

Instruction
St. Theresa second grade uses innovative strategies to deliver a differentiated curriculum to each child.  We incorporate whole group, small group, and individual instruction to benefit all of our diverse learners.

The second grade program also includes: Virtue-Based Learning, PE, Spanish, Technology, Music, Art, Drama and Library. 

Unique to 2nd Grade 

• First Reconciliation 

• First Holy Communion 

• Two exclusive field trips