Elementary Curriculum

Science
Risen Savior incorporates FOSS science kits into our science curriculum. The Full Option Science System springs from a philosophy of learning at the Lawrence Hall of Science that has guided the development of successful active-learning science curricula for more than 25 years. The FOSS developers are dedicated to the proposition that students learn science best by doing science. Teachers and students do science together when they open the FOSS kits, engaging in enduring experiences that lead to deeper understanding of the natural world. This is a natural extension of our philosophy that students learn best by doing, regardless of the subject matter!

Reading/Language Arts/Spelling
Students in Elementary Grades at RSLS use resources from Harcourt Brace because it is a research-based, developmental reading/language arts program. Explicit phonics instruction; direct reading instruction; guided reading strategies; phonemic awareness instruction; systematic, intervention strategies; integrated language arts components; and state-of-the-art assessment tools ensure every student successfully learns to read. The corresponding spelling component develops communication skills with research-based instructional techniques, writing development, integrated language arts, and special student reference features.

Most students at Risen Savior have mastered over 80 sight words by the end of Kindergarten, which gives them an excellent foundation for the accelerated pace of first and second grade.

Mathematics
Too often, thinking skills have been overlooked or considered extra, something above and beyond the basic that must be taught. Teachers at Risen Savior recognize that thinking skills are basic and critical thinking activities are considered indispensable to the education of every child. The curriculum we use is published by Pearson Learning and it presents activities to help students develop their thinking and problem-solving skills using strategies that can help solve non-routine math problems. Students use more than one strategy to arrive at a solution, and some of these strategies require that students use skills such as thinking visually, recognizing patterns, using logical reasoning, and doing organized counting—all of which are elements of critical thinking in mathematics.

Religion
Our religious curriculum, Voyages, is produced by Concordia Publishing House and helps students discover how Jesus is our Guide for life in today’s world. Voyages gets kids excited about exploring Scripture, and makes religion instruction the highlight of each day. Techniques include active learning, grade appropriate lessons and take home materials. Bible stories are taught sequentially on all levels. An emphasis is on group work and teaching the faith through living it. Accompaniment of hymns and songs of faith.