 II. Language Arts (Houghton – Mifflin Reading Series) |
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In order to achieve literacy success for all students, MHOC believes in using a variety of techniques and resources. Our language arts program includes small group instruction and independent skill practice and application. Beginning reading success is achieved through the development of oral language, phonemic awareness, letter recognition, phonics and blending skills, and high frequency vocabulary recognition. |
 | Our reading program provides consistent development of comprehension strategies and skills. Skill instruction is reinforced and tailored to the learning style and needs of all students. A variety of literature resources are used to challenge and extend the independent reading and fluency development needs of students. Cross-curricular writing activities provide a content-area connection that ties in language arts with both science and social studies.
| A. Word Study |
B. Grammar and Mechanics |
- Base and Root Words
- Syllabication
- Prefixes and Suffixes
- Synonyms and Antonyms
- Compound Words
- Word Endings
- Contractions
- Possessives
- VCCV, VCCCV, and VCV Patterns
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- The Sentence
- Nouns and Pronouns
- Verbs
- Adjectives and Adverbs
- Capitalization and Punctuation
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| C. Writing |
D. Spelling |
- The Writing Process
- Main Idea and Details
- Descriptive Writing
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| E. Vocabulary |
F. Reading Skills |
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- Sequence of Events
- Making Inferences
- Cause and Effect
- Author’s Viewpoint
- Categorize and Classify
- Topic, Main Idea and Supporting Details
- Following Directions
- Drawing Conclusions
- Story Structure
- Compare and Contrast
- Making Judgments
- Predicting Outcomes
- Making Generalizations
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| G. Information and Study Skills |
H. Literature |
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- Fiction and Nonfiction
- Biography
- Fables, Folktales and Myths
- Classic Literature
- Poetry
- Penmanship – Cursive Develop basic strokes (downcurve, slant, overcurve, undercurve) with uppercase and lowercase letters.
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| II. Mathematics (Houghton – Mifflin Mathematics Series) |
Mathematics at MHOC is child centered and taught using a systematic step-by-step approach. The program emphasizes a balance of hands-on activities along with practice and problem solving opportunities to develop mathematical concepts and skills. Instruction is differentiated according to ability level. Manipulatives are used whenever possible to create a concrete understanding of skills and concepts. Cooperative learning is essential in developing key problem solving skills that are a pre-cursor to algebraic thinking. Students work together to apply skills and concepts to new situations. Problem solving and reasoning skills are integrated into every phase of instruction, i.e. explain thinking process or justify a solution to a problem.
- Concepts
- Place Value
- Money and Time
- Addition and Subtraction
- Measurement
- Multiplication Concepts
- Multiplication Facts
- Geometry and Measurement
- Division Concepts
- Division Facts
- Data and Probability
- Fractions and Decimals
- Multiplying and Dividing
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- Problem Solving
- Choose and Operation or Computation Method
- Too Much or Too Little Information
- Multi-step Problems
- Using Estimation
- Draw Pictures or Diagrams
- Patterns
- Guess and Check
- Make a Table or Chart
- Write a Number Sentence
- Write a Simpler Problem
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| IV. Social Studies |
The goal of social studies is to provide students with opportunities to acquire facts and concepts drawn from the chronology of our nation’s heritage. It also provides them with an understanding of democratic principles and ideals upon which good citizenship is founded. The MHOC social studies curriculum consists of a comprehensive study our community, nation and world, offering students the skills and knowledge to thrive in an increasingly complex society. Maps and globes are studied as an integral part of understanding the student’s surroundings. Hands-on and cooperative learning activities are the modes of learning effectively used in the classroom. A rich abundance of materials and learning resources such as videos, computer software and reference books help to bring the content to life. Engaging activities and projects help the students internalize the concepts.
| A. Community and Geography |
B. America’s Early Communities |
- The Places We Live
- Identify local cities and counties
- Recognize interdependence of communities
- Our Land and Resources
- Use maps (political and physical) globes, charts and graphs
- Recognize cardinal directions
- Identify latitude and longitude
- Identify hemispheres
- Recognize boundaries
- Locate and identify continents
- Locate and identify oceans
- Locate north and south poles
- Recognize physical features, natural resources and their use
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- Old and New Communities
- Recognize Native Americantribes
- Compare and contrast Native Americans by region and by past and present
- Communities in History
- Identify and describe early American settlers
- Identify and describe early explorers of the Americas and regions explored
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| C. People Move from Place to Place |
D. Community Government |
- Newcomers Settle
- Westward Movement
- Trail of Tears
- People from Many Places
- Rrecognize the contributions people from various regions and cultures have made within the United States
- Identify minority contributions and cultural diversity in history
- Identify various regions and cultures of the world
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- Being an Active Citizen – Recognize Roles of Citizens
- Our Government -- Recognize Role and Purpose of Government
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| F. Celebrating People and Cultures |
- Looking at Culture
- Holidays and Heroes
- Identify and describe purpose of national holidays
- Identify and describe purpose of having national historical monuments
- Identify contributions of famous Americans to society
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| IV. Science |
Students better understand science when they immerse themselves in the content using a hands-on approach. At MHOC, students have access to an extensive array of materials through which they can discover first hand the wonders of life and the world around them. Videos and laser discs add depth to each lesson and provide a clearer more extensive understanding of topics of study. Also on hand are a multitude of visual aids, such as experiments, fossils, magnets, and models, just to name a few. Students become the center of the lessons and investigate scientific concepts using the scientific method. They use higher order thinking and real-world applications throughout each unit. Reading, writing and math are integrated into the units, which allows students to successfully transfer skills and strategies across the content areas. Problem solving opportunities, vocabulary extensions and science related literature are integral parts of the curriculum.
| A. Life Science |
B. Physical Science |
- Plants Live and Grow Describe importance of plants
- Identify parts of plants and their function
- Describe photosynthesis
- Explain plant life cycle
- Animals Change and Grow
- Classify animals
- Distinguish between endangered and extinct
- Living Things and Their Environment
- Define food chain
- Explain benefit of animals living in groups
- Changing Environments
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- Matter and how it Changes - List and recognize different states of matter
- Forces, Machines and Work -Inventions
- Energy in Your World – Identify sources of energy
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| C. Earth Science |
D. Human Body |
- Changes in the Earth’s Surface
- Materials of the Earth
- Describe layers of the earth
- Classify types of rocks
- Sun, Planets and Moon
- Clouds and Storms
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- Body Systems
- Staying Healthy
- Recognize that germs cause disease
- Explain how the body fights disease
- Explain need for healthful foods
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| E. Scientific Method |
- Define Scientific Method
- Understand Relationship Between Observations, Inferences, and Predictions
- Cooperatively Investigate and Develop Conclusions
- Record and Interpret Information on charts, tables, and different types of graphs.
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| V. Religion (Sadlier: We Believe) |
Jesus calls to each child, “Follow me” (Luke 9:23). At MHOC, content is integrated that is faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church and that holistically embraces the four pillars of the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Creed, Liturgy and Sacraments, Moral Life and Prayer. Students participate in morning and afternoon prayers as well as prayers before meals. Weekly mass is a time to come together as a school and rejoice in God’s blessings. Our goal is to nurture each child’s relationship with Jesus. This is achieved through both text and music in the curriculum area. Morals and values are integrated into the various content areas that further provide a firm foundation in faith.
| A. Jesus Gives Us the Church |
B. We Are Members of the Church |
| C. The Church Leads Us in Worship |
D. We Are Called to Discipleship | |
| VI. Specials |
Spanish, Music, Art, Physical Education, Computer Technology and Media. |
