Religion:

All students have daily religion and participate in prayer (upon arrival, before lunch, before dismissal), weekly liturgies, masses, prayer services, service projects, reconciliation, Adoration, sacramental preparation, and praying of the Rosary. Curriculum includes study of Catholic faith, sacramental life, Biblical scripture, and lives of saints.

Language Arts:

Students in early childhood education actively learn letter sounds through the Jolly Phonics program. Primary and intermediate students experience a balance of instruction in phonics, grammar, vocabulary, writing, and literary comprehension. Junior high students read leveled selections from the Prentice Hall Literature series and receive remediation after assessment.

The goal of the reading curriculum at Queen of the Rosary School is to foster a lifelong love of reading. This is achieved through balanced reading instruction to endow learners with a firm foundation of skills and broad reading experiences.

The early childhood reading curriculum begins with the basics of reading and writing using the Jolly Phonics program. This program teaches the letter sounds in an active multi-sensory way, enabling the students to independently read and write with accuracy at an earlier age.

Primary and intermediate grade level students utilize the HMH Journey’s reading series. Students are guided to success through balanced instruction in phonics, comprehension, vocabulary, and language art skills. The series motivates students to read through award-winning children’s literature and informational text. Leveled books on related topics reinforce concepts, strategies, vocabulary, and comprehension skills, while accommodating different ability levels. The reading curriculum also includes multiple exposures to critical thinking skills and strategies. It provides instructional techniques to meet the diverse needs and learning styles of each student.  Think Central is the HMH website that allows teachers and students to access digital materials associated with the Journey’s program.  This online component includes resources for each lesson.  It is organized by chapter to enable teachers to quickly identify materials and flexibly organize curriculum.  It includes intervention and challenge resources.  Silent sustained reading is a key component in the reading curriculum to help students develop comprehension and fluency.

Prentice-Hall Literature: Language and Literacy was selected for the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades because it blends classic and contemporary literature. It also includes new literacies, such as Web sites and newspapers. The program is designed to reach all students through leveled selections and personalized instruction, assessment, and remediation. Students create their own compositions based on skills introduced in each unit. Novels supplement the textbook. Independent reading is encouraged through the Scholastic Reading Counts program in grades 2-8.

Math:

The math curriculum is structured to give students a solid foundation for exploring and understanding mathematics from elementary school to high school.  Math teachers in all grade levels are committed to accountability and create weekly lesson plans that align classroom objectives with Common Core State Standards. 

Queen of the Rosary's math curriculum is structured to help students recognize and appreciate the vital role mathematics play in the real world by demonstrating the usefulness and validity of mathematics to every student. It is also structured to help students explore and create algebraic and geometric patterns used as problem solving tools in real life situations. Furthermore, the math curriculum is structured to encourage students to reason and communicate with each other about skills and ideas that lead to conceptual and computational development.  The curriculum includes numerical awareness, problem-solving strategies, estimation, and analysis of data, using graphs, statistics, and probability. Number theory is developed using place value, decimals, fractions, and real numbers. Measurement and geometry target spatial awareness. 

We are excited to introduce the HMH Into Math curriculum for the 2022-2023 school year.  HMH Into Math supports students as they develop their conceptual understanding and grow into procedurally fluent mathematicians. Lessons begin with the opportunity for students to express what they already know and challenge themselves with what might be coming next. Question prompts throughout lessons check understanding and motivate students to start conversations about mathematics using mathematical language.  The Learning ARC is to Build Understanding, Connect Concepts and Skills, and Apply & Practice.  https://www.hmhco.com/programs/into-math#overview

The junior high uses Pre-Algebra and Algebra 1 (Holt McDougal Larson).  In the junior high, higher level thought processes are needed for problem solving based on mastery of lower-level operations. Teachers use fact drills and scaffolding instruction to help children make connections with independent problem solving methods. The development of a clear understanding of math concepts is emphasized through the recognition of patterns, divergent thinking, and consistent practice, applying skills in problem solving and number theory instruction. 

Science:

The science curriculum is based upon Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).  The standards are grouped into three dimensions: crosscutting; science and engineering practices; and disciplinary core ideas. Student learning is inquiry-based in earth science, life science, physical science, engineering and technology. It emphasizes the connections between what is learned in the classroom and what is happening in the world. We have adopted HMH Into Science for grades K-4 and HMH Science Dimensions for grades five through eight.

Social Studies:

Students learn about basic geographical themes, countries of the world and ancient civilizations. They study American history, which includes the first Americans, European exploration, the American Revolution and the U.S. Constitution. The U.S. Civil War, Reconstruction, WWII, and the Illinois Constitution are examined in eighth grade.

Spanish: 

Students in grades six, seven, and eight have daily instruction in Spanish. Students in grade five study Spanish twice as week. All grade levels use an online textbook program called Voces Digital that features videos, word pronunciation, interactive games, and online homework. The curriculum emphasizes conversation and incorporates newly learned vocabulary into real-life settings. Students study Hispanic culture, as well, focusing on celebrations such as Día de Los Muertos, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, and Cinco de Mayo. Seventh and eighth grade students create shoebox altars for Día de los Muertos, and a school mass is held in honor of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe.

Fine Arts:

Various media forms are experienced by students from preschool to eighth grade. Art appreciation is offered in grades kindergarten through eighth grade. The program exposes art prints that consist of painting, sculptures, photographs and collages from all eras. Students have the opportunity to learn how to play the ukulele, read music notation, and develop their singing and ear training skills. Performance opportunities include a Christmas concert and spring musical. Junior high students are exposed to many musical genres and periods of history, and they learn how to analyze and discuss music in both an academic and personal way.   Students also have the opportunity to sing at school masses and participate in the bell chimes choir and band.

Computer and Technology:

Students develop keyboarding skills, the use of word processing, spreadsheets, databases, multimedia applications, digital video editing, and graphing. Students are engaged in learning through the use Internet resources, the use of interactive white boards, chromebooks and iPads.

Physical Education/Health:

Physical education and health is an integral piece in the educational process beginning in preschool through eighth grade. In accordance with state goals, we seek to develop a student’s understanding of being a physically educated person.

  
Social Emotional Learning

Queen of the Rosary school has implemented the character development program called Friendzy. SEL (Social Emotional Learning) is the process through which people learn to recognize and manage emotions, care about others, make good decisions, behave ethically and responsibly, develop positive relationships, and avoid negative behaviors. The Friendzy Curriculum teaches five core competencies of Social and Emotional Learning: self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision making, social awareness and relationship skills. Each unit has a catchphrase that is a familiar, understandable way to communicate with others and remind everyone how to connect and become a community. We Need Each Other!