Curriculum
While Annunciation Catholic School’s curriculum is
guided by the Archdiocese of Washington Standards of
Learning – that outlines the content of our teaching –
our classrooms are dynamic, creative and challenging
places of learning and teaching for every student.
Courses offered include:
Advisory / Conflict
Resolution
Advisory / Conflict Resolution is offered to all
students in Grades 7 and 8. It is a conflict resolution
and character building class designed to help students
acquire the skills and understandings they need to deal
with conflicts productively and nonviolently within the
framework of the Gospel values.
Art
Art, offered to all students, Kindergarten through
Grade 8, is designed to develop an appreciation of the
subject through studying its principles and history.
Students have the opportunity to create art using a
variety of materials. The creative efforts of all
students are displayed throughout the year and during
the Spring Art Show.
Computer Education
Computer Education is offered to all students,
Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 8, in the Computer Lab.
Students are taught the basics of hardware and software
usage, keyboarding, and multi-media applications are
implemented in an age-appropriate manner including work
with graphic design. Software covering academic subjects
is also incorporated. Students become proficient in
search techniques on the Internet, creating power point
presentations, and various graphing techniques.
Language Arts, Reading, and
Writing Program
Reading for dedicated periods of the school day with
a wide variety of choices is the cornerstone of our
reading and writing program. Annunciation Catholic School
understands that reading and writing are skills and
experiences that must be joined and be the center of
each student’s academic program.
In the primary grades, the Language Arts, Reading,
and Writing program consists of Phonics, Spelling,
Reading, and Writing. Reading is taught in the structure
of Readers Workshop with independent reading, guided
reading, and word study. Each student is assessed
throughout the year to determine his or her
instructional reading level and areas of strength, need,
and interest. Based on the periodic assessments, the
teacher can target particular needs and strengths for
each student and the class as a whole. Daily read alouds
are also an integral part of literacy instruction in the
primary grades. Writing experiences begin with pictures
and grow to sentences and paragraphs. Writing, in its
many forms, is part of every school day in every subject
area.
In the upper grades, a strong emphasis is placed on
teaching students an array of reading comprehension
strategies that they can use dependent upon the subject
matter they are reading. For example, when reading a
mystery, students can use their prediction skills. When
reading a biography, students might create a timeline of
important events. When reading an historical novel,
students might employ the strategy of “thoughts and
questions” to help them reflect and own their new
knowledge as they are reading. Students learn a variety
of literacy skills including vocabulary and concept
development through wordy study, reading comprehension
including literary response and analysis, English
Language Conventions including the study of traditional
grammar, the writing process including the different
types of writing applications, and listening and
speaking skills.
Writing portfolios are maintained for all students in
Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 8. These portfolios
become a part of the student’s permanent academic record
as they follow the student throughout his or her
academic career at Annunciation Catholic School. Writing
portfolios are an invaluable resource for not only the
current and future teachers, but also the student as he
or she grows as a writer.
Mathematics
At all grade levels, the fundamentals of math are
explored and instilled in a practical hands on manner
that allows students to understand the real life
applications of mathematics. Students are challenged to
develop and hone their critical thinking and problem
solving skills. Assessment is ongoing, or formative
based, to give teachers the best information about the
status of the student’s learning.
Students in Grades 5 through 8 are provided with math
instruction in a departmental format. Significant
emphasis is placed upon applying basic fundamental math
skills and concepts to everyday experiences. In an
effort to include writing experiences in math, students
keep a daily journal. Additionally, in an effort to
incorporate the work of our staff development
collaboration with Howard University, teachers of all
subject areas also work to include math in their
teaching.
Pre-Algebra is offered to students in Grade 7 who
have demonstrated an aptitude and have successfully
completed the advanced Grade 6 math course.
Algebra is offered to students in Grade 8 who have
demonstrated an aptitude and have successfully completed
the Pre-Algebra course.
Music
Music, offered to all students Pre-Kindergarten
through Grade 8, is designed to stimulate interest in
the subject. Students make discoveries about concepts
through singing songs, playing musical instruments, and
studying the lives of great composers. The musical
talents of the students are showcased during the
Christmas Pageant and Spring Concert.
Physical Education
Physical Education, offered to all students
Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 8, is designed to develop
gross motor skills, physical fitness, sportsmanship,
leadership, responsibility, and determination. Students
in Grades 5 through 8 learn the skills and rules of
several organized sports. All students participate in
Field Day.
Religion
The Religion program teaches the basic tenets of the
Roman Catholic faith and strives to promote the Gospel
values through a lived faith experience. Each day begins
with school wide prayer, and homeroom teachers provide
religious instruction during the first class period. The
parish priests also provide weekly instruction to
individual classes. Bi-monthly Masses are prepared by
Grades 4 through 8 and are celebrated with the entire
school. Students plan each liturgy and participate fully
as lectors, cantors, and altar servers.
During the liturgical seasons of Advent and Lent,
students and faculty participate as one in daily prayer
services. Stations of the Cross are said in the Church
by the individual classes during the Lenten season. In
honor of Mary, the Rosary is recited by the entire
school, during the months of October and May.
Service projects are done on a grade level and
school-wide basis during the school year. These include
canned food drives, school-wide recycling, a walkathon
for cancer research, Jump for the Heart, and fundraising
for the Sisters of the Mission of the Holy Child Jesus
and victims of the Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina.
In Grade 2, students prepare for the Sacraments of
Penance and Eucharist. Students in Grades 7 and 8
prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation. As part of
the Confirmation preparation, students must keep a
journal recording and reflecting on at least 20 hours of
community service.
Science
From Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 4 there is an emphasis
on students predicting, observing, discovering,
recording results, and making conclusions when studying
areas such as plants, animals, life cycles, weather,
rocks and minerals, the solar system, and the
environment. In Grade 4, students study and use the
scientific method while conducting their first
experiment for the school wide Science Fair. The science
curriculum in the upper grades consists of physical,
earth, environmental, and biological sciences. The core
curriculum is complemented by hands-on experiences and
is inquiry based. In Grades 5 through 8, students
participate in laboratory experiments and the school
sponsored Science Fair judged by local scientists.
Social Studies and History
The social studies program focuses on the building of
communities, cities, and countries with an emphasis on
cultural and ethnic diversity. Primary grades focus on
families and local and regional communities. They begin
by examining the difference between the past and
present, moving to understanding their rights and
responsibilities as citizens, and how people can shape
and change their communities by interaction with their
environment, technology, and human and natural
resources. In Grade 4, students examine the important
aspects of our local community by discovering how
geography and culture work together to shape the regions
of Washington, DC and Maryland through topics such as
the changing and competing uses of the Chesapeake Bay.
Grades 5 and 8 study U.S. history from the discovery of
America to the events that affect us today through
various research and group projects. Grades 6 and 7
explore ancient civilizations and world cultures, while
completing hands on projects such as building castles
and researching how they function.
Spanish
Spanish, offered to all students in Grades 1 through
8, is designed to develop a basic understanding of
Spanish vocabulary and grammar applied in reading and
writing. Students also develop an in-depth understanding
and appreciation for the Spanish culture. |
