Curriculum

The faculty and staff at St. Edward are dedicated to educating the whole child. The school strives to support, encourage, and nurture each student’s spiritual, intellectual, physical, social, and emotional growth. St. Edward offers a well-rounded curriculum of academic course work as well as physical education, technology skills, Spanish language instruction, and music integration. Our goal is that all students will reach their potential to make a difference in the world through working hard and living out Gospel values.

Transitional Kindergarten

Transitional Kindergarten (TK) emphasizes language, pre- literacy, and early math based on the California Kindergarten Standards, and uses developmentally appropriate strategies and foundations for Kindergarten students. It is the first year of a two-year kindergarten program that uses a modified kindergarten curriculum that is age and developmentally appropriate. Many students benefit academically, socially, and developmentally from the time provided. The children incorporate learning through various activities that enhance gross and fine motor skills as well as self-confidence and creativity.

Kindergarten-8th Grade Common Core Standards

Building on the best of existing state standards, the Common Core State Standards provide clear and consistent learning goals to help prepare students for college, career, and life. The standards clearly demonstrate what students are expected to learn at each grade level, so that every parent and teacher can understand and support their learning.

Research and evidence based
Clear, understandable, and consistent
Aligned with college and career expectations
Based on rigorous content and the application of knowledge through higher-order thinking skills
Built upon the strengths and lessons of current state standards
Informed by other top-performing countries to prepare all students for success in our global economy and society

According to the best available evidence, the mastery of each standard is essential for success in college, career, and life in today’s global economy. St. Edward School follows the Common Core Standards:

English Language Arts Standards

Mathematics Standards

Kindergarten-8th Grade Next Generation Science Standards

We recognize that science is a core academic subject with an allotted share of instructional time and resources, and that there must be careful and deliberate articulation of the Diocesan Guidelines across grade levels. In order for students to succeed in meeting Diocesan and California State Science Standards, we provide the following goals:

Promote scientific inquiry and enthusiasm for science by motivating students to investigate the natural world in an atmosphere of curiosity, open-mindedness, integrity, and patience
Utilize Diocesan Guidelines as well as additional curriculum/resources to incorporate science across multiple disciplines
Introduce all students, starting in the primary grades, to scientific vocabulary and methods, in order to provide them with the essential knowledge necessary to understand and apply scientific concepts
Challenge students to become active problem solvers, to differentiate fact from fiction, and to develop critical reading and thinking skills
Create a student-centered environment that encourages exploration and application of scientific processes. Methodologies may include hands-on experiences, cooperative learning, experimentation, inquiry-based activities, and appropriate use of technological resources
Evaluate student performance using a variety of assessments, including those with appropriate modifications and accommodations for differentiated learners
Empower students with the skills necessary to make educated and ethical decisions concerning their own lives and their local and global communities

Next Generation Science Standards

Kindergarten-8th Grade California Social Science Standards

Kindergarten-8th Grade Life Skills Rubric

Indicators	M Consistently Meets Expectations	A Approaching Expectations	N Needs Support
Completes Quality Work Punctuality Neatness Makes Up Work Produces Quality Work Works to Ability	Completes and returns quality homework on time Shows neatness Promptly completes work missed due to an absence Produces quality classwork Works to ability	Completes and returns quality work on time some of the time Shows neatness some of the time Completes work missed due to an absence with a little prompting Produces quality work some of the time Works to ability some of the time	Rarely completes and returns quality work on time Rarely shows neatness Rarely follows through completing missed assignments Rarely produces quality work Rarely works to ability
Is Prepared to Learn Organizes Self, Materials, and Belongings Has Materials Ready	Organizes self, materials, and belongings Brings needed materials to class and is always ready to work	Organizes self, materials, and belongings some of the time Brings needed materials to class and is always ready to work some of the time	Rarely organizes self, materials, and belongings Rarely brings needed materials to class and is rarely ready to work
Participates in Learning Works Well With Others Shares Ideas Contributes to the Learning Environment	Shares information or ideas when participating in discussion or groups Is a leader who contributes with consistent effort Cooperates with others and solves problems appropriately Collaborates effectively with others Contributes to the learning environment most of the time	Shares information or ideas when participating in discussion or groups some of the time Is a leader who contributes consistent effort some of the time Cooperates with others and solves problems appropriately some of the time Collaborates effectively with others some of the time Contributes to the learning environment some of the time	Rarely shares information or ideas when participating in discussion or groups Rarely is a leader who contributes consistent effort Rarely cooperates with others and solves problems appropriately Rarely collaborates effectively with others Rarely contributes to the learning environment
Follows Classroom Expectations On Task Listen Attentively Is a Self-directed Learner Follows Rules Has a Positive Attitude Toward Learning Follows Directions	Stays focused on the task and what needs to be done Listens attentively Is self-directed Follows classroom and school routines and procedures Has a positive attitude toward learning Follows Directions	Stays focused on the task and what needs to be done some of the time Listens attentively some of the time Follows directions some of the time Is self-directed some of the time Follows classroom and school routines and procedures some of the time Has a positive attitude toward learning some of the time Follows directions some of the time	Rarely stays focused on the task and what needs to be done Rarely listens attentively Rarely follows directions Is self-directed rarely Rarely follows classroom and school routines and procedures Rarely has a positive attitude toward learning Rarely follows directions
Shows Behavior/Social Development Actively Serves the Community Takes Responsibility Respectful Demonstrates Self-Confidence Helps Others Practices Self-Management Skills	Serves and enriches the community Takes responsibility for his/her own choices and actions Respectful of rights, opinions and property of others Demonstrates self-confidence and seeks help appropriately Willing to help others Practices self-management skills	Serves and enriches the community some of the time Takes responsibility for his/her own choices and actions some of the time Respectful of rights, opinions and property of others some of the time Demonstrates self confidence and seeks help appropriately some of the time Sometimes willing to help others Practices self-management skills some of the time	Rarely serves and enriches the community Rarely takes responsibility for his/her own choices and actions Rarely respectful of rights, opinions and property of others Rarely demonstrates self- confidence and seeks help appropriately Rarely willing to help others Rarely practices self-management skills
SLE/Catholic Identity Embraces Prayer Dedicated to Study Nurtures Community Preaches in Dominican Tradition	Consistently follows the SLEs	Sometimes follows SLEs	Rarely practices SLEs

Life Skills Rubric:
M- Consistently Meets Standard
A - Approaching Standard – (Self correcting and learning the skills to independence)

N- Needs Support – (Need a behavior plan or support of an adult)