Specific grade level content

Kindergarten

Celebrate Reading! sets the tone for the year with its eight theme based units, from which cross-curricular ideas stem. The program is a whole language approach. Topics include:

• Me & my Family
• Around the Neighborhood
• Keeping Fit
• Animals, Animals
• Vehicles & Machines
• Down by the Water
• Kindergarten Ecology
• Creepy Crawly Things

Students combine this reading series with Zoo Phonics, a reading and spelling program. This is a movement oriented phonics program which introduces the entire alphabet in its lower-case form initially since this is the form children see most when reading. Phase I introduces names, signals and sounds of 26 zoo animals through pictures, songs and movement activities. Phase 2 introduces letter names which these animals represent, along with reinforcement of signals and sounds. Phase 3 allows for the child to begin spelling and reading simple 3 letter C-V-C words, once all 26 signals and sounds have been mastered.

Grades 1 through Grade 5

Valley Christian School utilizes The World of Reading by Silver Burdett Ginn which also offers a whole language approach. It is rich with various genres and contains excerpts from classic and modern literature. Science fiction as well as fantasy can be enjoyed. A multicultural flavor pervades the stories.

Teachers intersperse Christian and secular novels that offer cross curricular connections.

Grades one and two supplement this text with Modern Curriculum Press phonics lessons.

Grade 6

Grade six does not use a basal reading text. They read four books together in class. Two of the books relate to the social studies curriculum. They are The Golden Goblet (Egypt) and The Bronze Bow (Rome). Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is read prior to the Christmas holidays and From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Koenisburg is another favorite. A Christian biographical novel titled George Mueller is also read as a class.