Academics

Students’ reading skills become stronger as they move from learning how to read to reading to learn.  The children are taught by using classic literature as well as modern pieces. Story themes are used to bridge language and reading lessons allowing students to fully comprehend stories and skills.  Students are taught to write complete sentences and two to three well written paragraphs.

Journal work is completed on a weekly basis along with more formal writing assignments such as persuasive, narrative, and descriptive.  Throughout the year, third grade students are responsible for completing a variety of book report assignments such as poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and biographies. Third grade is also where students will master cursive writing.

Below is a list of book reports due this school year. The dates are subject to change due to unexpected events. You will receive a clear description of each assignment as they approach. If you are unable to obtain specific materials for the projects, feel free to improvise or contact me directly. I tried to be generous on the time given to complete each project. As a result, I have high expectations and hope that you will take this opportunity to teach your child time management. Have fun!

 

1. October 30th —–Saints Report (non-fiction/informational)

2. December 4th —–Character Description (historical fiction)

3. January 8th —–Can A Character (fiction)

4. February 12th —–iMystery (mystery)

5. March 26th —–Scraps of History (biography)

6. April 30th —–Poem Portfolio (poetry)

7. June 4th —–Board Game (fiction)

The Mathematics curriculum allows students to continue to practice and develop addition and subtraction skills. It is in third grade that students are introduced to multiplication and division. Through hands-on activities and repetition students will master these skills along with graphs, measurement, geometry, and fractions.

Social Studies focuses on the beginning of our beautiful country. Through a variety of projects and activities students will explore the Native American tribes and Pilgrims that inhabited our country so many years ago. Students will also be taught the roots of our government and how our country is still run today based on decisions made by our forefathers.  These units are completed with a trip to the Pequot Museum in Connecticut, Plymouth Plantation in Massachusetts, the Town Hall in Southbridge, or The Freedom Trail in Boston.

Students reading comprehension is a major focal point in grade 4.  Students read a variety of genres including fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, and fairy tales. They use prereading strategies such as preview and prediction.  The use of skills such as inference, sequence, problem and solution, and cause and effect relationships aid in comprehension. During the year students are read aloud to for enjoyment.  This introduces them to new authors and various forms of literature.

Writing and vocabulary skills are developed through structured assignments such as journal entries, essays, letters, and a research paper.  Students demonstrate their understanding of new words through assessment as well as usage within assignments.

Grammar skills are reinforced throughout the year, including parts of speech and punctuation.  Students are taught how to write compound and complex sentences to form three to four well structured paragraphs.  Students are also given a variety of book reports assignments to demonstrate these skills throughout the year.

The mathematics program includes a review of basic addition and subtraction as well as number sense.  Students continue their mastery of multiplication and division, which includes the use of larger numbers.  They strengthen their understanding of fractions which includes addition, subtraction, and mixed numbers. Probability and statistics are introduced as a way to use predictions and generalizations.  Problem solving strategies are used in each of the concept areas.

The science curriculum focuses on the areas of the human body, matter and sound, electricity and magnetism.  Concentrated topics allow for a greater depth of understanding with the use of hands on activities, classroom demonstrations, and laboratory exercises.

In social studies, students focus on the geography of the United States with concentration on the five regions. The themes of geography, location, place, movement, human/environment interactions, and region, are defined.  An annual state pageant gives each of the students a unique opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of one of the 50 states.  Students also read and discuss current events through the use of a weekly magazine.

The religion program focuses on the sacraments of initiation. Students also learn how to live as Jesus taught and to treat others with respect.  Students understand the presence of God in their daily lives. Students begin to realize their own gifts and talents and have many opportunities to share these throughout the year.

At Trinity Catholic Academy, Fifth Grade Science class is a brand-new experience. It is the first time that students are changing classes and have another teacher for a major subject area. This entails new expectations, traveling with their books, and answering to someone other than their homeroom teacher. It allows for a taste of the major adjustment next year as a part of the middle school.

Science is introduced as an area where we play and discover, an area where being wrong can lead to new discoveries, and an area where questions begin the scientific process. STEM/STEAM is integrated into the curriculum on a regular basis allowing students to problem solve in different ways.

Every other year we have a science fair where students may work by themselves or with a partner for several months on a project of their choosing. The project is based on the scientific method. The fair gives students an opportunity to work in an area of interest, work on a long term project and share their results with judges in order to gain public speaking skills and self-confidence.

Our Reading program is a program that stresses literary elements, vocabulary, and critical thinking.  Students read a variety of novels during the year to accomplish these goals.  Book report projects are assigned that cover a variety of literary genres. Coupled with that is our English program which is strong in teaching parts of speech, sentence structure, and writing skills.  It is an irrefutable strength to be able to express oneself through the written word.  To that end, much time is spent in developing a fifth-grader’s writing skills, and they are provided with many opportunities to do meaningful writing across the curriculum.  In addition, we have a strong spelling and vocabulary program published  that presents challenging words, not only for developing strong spelling skills, but also to provide opportunities to become familiar with synonyms and antonyms and how to use words in context.

Our math program, published by Sadlier stresses basic mathematical and arithmetical concepts as well as presenting many problem solving strategies.  Practical, everyday applications for the concepts that are being taught are presented to students so that Math has meaning for the students’ own lives, now and in the future.

In Social Studies we concentrate on the history of each region of the United States, studying the earliest people who occupied a region, the introduction of the first explorers to the area, the major historical events that took place, and ending with a study of the region’s contemporary characteristics.  Students participate in field trips to Boston to visit the Freedom Trail and take a walking tour of Old Sturbridge Village.  Each trip allows students the chance to see how and where history takes place.

An integral part of attending Trinity Catholic Academy is spiritual formation.  Fifth-graders examine sacraments as part of their curriculum. Students have the opportunity to understand how the seven sacraments operate in their lives and in the world at a level that they can understand.   We examine basic precepts of the Church, scripture stories, the lives of important people within the Church and in the world, and then apply the lessons to be learned to our own lives.

Grade 6 English is composed of four major components: Grammar, Vocabulary, Writing, and Poetry.  A very strong study of the parts of speech and proper sentence construction is an integral part of fine-tuning a student’s writing skills.  To that end, we concentrate heavily on parts of speech and their role in sentence construction and in proper syntax.  We apply these grammatical skills when we study proper paragraph and essay construction.  A variety of types of writing are practiced in sixth grade which might include the personal narrative, expository writing, writing that compares and contrasts or which cites evidence in order to persuade.  We further extend those skills in the writing of a research paper in connection with a school wide Science Fair or Social Studies Fair, each of which is held in alternating years.  We have a very strong vocabulary program that serves to enhance both our reading and writing.  In the spring of the year, we enjoy a unit on poetry.  We take a look at the elements of poetry and focus in on some conventional and some not so conventional forms.  The most enjoyable part of this unit for our sixth graders is that they try their hand at writing their own poetry—with remarkable results.

Grade 6 is a big transition year for literature! There is a distinct shift from focusing on reading within a reading anthology to reading and analyzing whole novels. Students are challenged to move beyond reading for understanding to reading to critically think and analyze.

We kick off the year with summer reading selections. Students are required to read Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Giff for literature. This story is a touching coming of age novel with a challenging story line that contains flashbacks. This novel is perfect for introducing plot structure and characterization. The second book that is required reading is There’s an Owl in the Shower by Jean Craighead. This book is discussed at length within the 6th grade science curriculum while studying biomes.

Within the 6th grade literature curriculum, students learn about summary, plot, theme, characterization, and symbolism. They explore various types of poetry and the wonderful world of folk tales. Novels are read and dissected in class such as Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan, Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and Firegirl by Tony Abbott.

In addition, students are encouraged to engage in their own independent reading through a 40 Book Challenge. This is intended to teach students the love of reading by giving students choice, and to encourage students to grow into lifelong readers long after they leave sixth grade.

Grade 6 students will prepare for Pre-Algebra by becoming proficient in number sense, operations with decimals and fractions, interpretation of data, customary and metric measurement, perimeter, and area.

Key concepts introduced during the year will be expressions, equations and integers. There are open ended math projects where students will learn the skill of using their own background knowledge to learn how to problem solve, establish the knowns and unknowns, and to learn the steps required to develop an equation to find the solution.

Assignments and assessments are given for 3 different skill levels; students may move from one level to another at any time during the academic year.

Periodic cumulative review assignments are given to ensure that students don’t lose the skills they have acquired while focusing on new skills.

Problem-solving and test-taking strategies are built into the curriculum, enhancing students’ critical thinking skills and their performance on standardized tests.

Coming soon!

In grade 6 religion, students study our ancestors in faith and draw historical and thematic connections between the Old Testament and the New Testament. Each theme is then examined from a modern perspective, exploring the ways in which a particular value might be lived out in our lives today. Students also gain a deeper understanding of the sacraments and what it means to be a Catholic.

Sixth graders are very curious about how their faith relates to their lives. Questions about Church history, the life of Jesus, the theology of the afterlife, and modern morality are often asked at this stage of spiritual development. These topics are woven into the curriculum where appropriate, and added in where necessary, to allow each individual class the flexibility to explore the concepts of interest to them.

Welcome to Science in the Sixth Grade! There are so many wonderful and exciting things going on this year. We start off in the summer with reading There’s an Owl in the Shower by Jean Craighead George. This story leads us into our study of Earth Systems and owl pellet dissection. We discover how cool science really can be.

The highlight of this year is our weeklong excursion to Nature’s Classroom in Wakefield, RI. We quickly come to realize that learning does not just happen in the four walls of a classroom or during the normal hours of a school day but that it happens everywhere and at any time. Students come back with a new sense of self, of others and some really cool stories about their adventures. Nature’s Classroom helps students discover their potential, bond with their classmates and have the experience of a lifetime!

Science is an area where we play and discover, an area where being wrong can lead to new discoveries, and an area where questions begin the scientific process.  STEM/STEAM is integrated into the curriculum on a regular basis allowing students to problem solve in different ways.

Every other year we have a science fair where students may work by themselves or with a partner for several months on a project of their choosing. The project is based on the scientific method. The fair gives students an opportunity to work in an area of interest, work on a long term project and share their results with judges in order to gain public speaking skills and self-confidence.

 

Grade six, beginning students will learn ABC’s, basic expressions, greetings, numbers, and some vocabulary.

Students in all grades will also be introduced to traditional Spanish celebrations like Dia de los Muertos at the beginning of November, Posadas at Christmas and Cinco de Mayo celebration on May 5th.

Student will have the basic knowledge to be able to succeed in Spanish I in high school.

The course of study for Grade 7 is Pre-Algebra Part I. Students will use their knowledge of decimals, fractions, and integers to solve for the variable in one-step and two-step equations and inequalities. They will study ratio, direct and inverse proportion, and percents and their applications.

In the geometry unit, students will learn the basics in area, volume, surface area,and coordinate planes geometry. There are open ended math projects where students will learn the skill of using their own background knowledge to learn how to problem solve, establish the knowns and unknowns, and to develop an equation to find the solution to a real life application.

Periodic cumulative review assignments are given to ensure that students don’t lose the skills they have acquired while focusing on new skills. Assignments and assessments are given for 3 different skill levels; students may move from one level to another at any time during the academic year.

Problem-solving and test-taking strategies are built into the curriculum, enhancing students’ critical thinking skills and their performance on standardized tests.

Coming soon!

Grade 7 English focuses on grammar.  Extensive work is done with the eight parts of speech, compound and complex sentences, subject and verb agreement, and punctuation.  Students are expected to apply these lessons in their writing.  Compositions are assigned every other week.

In addition to grammar lessons, students are assigned a two week long vocabulary unit. The test at the end of each unit is comprised of spelling, definitions, synonyms and antonyms, and words in context.

A research project is required in seventh grade. Students are taught how to research a subject, form a bibliography, and cite sources. Topics are alternated yearly between Science and Social Studies.

While studying autobiographies in Literature class, seventh grade students write their autobiographies.  Parents are asked to help provide early memories and with the selection of photographs. While students first balk at this assignment, they soon discover that writing about themselves can be fun!

As with all the other grades at Trinity, students participate in weekly mass which is the basis of our faith and our mission statement.

The 7th and 8th graders work together on Morality. It is a two year course that focuses on all the facets of morality. Many tools are used including class discussion, lecture, movies and student led questions.

As a group, they participate in The Stations of the Cross during Lent. They work together on the Stations Project which has the students recreating the Stations for the whole student body on Holy Thursday.

Prayer and a relationship with God are the goals for the students at the end of the course.

Science in the 7th grade is all about what is going on in our bodies. We start off with cells and move onto genetics and heredity. The majority of the year is spent on human biology and how the body works. We also talk about how wonderfully God made our bodies and the best way to take care of His precious gift.

Class time focuses on notes and discussion while the reading of the material is generally left to the students. This is the first time where students have pop quizzes and many announced quizzes to aid in the understanding of the material. Class participation is not only encouraged; it is vital to the students’ grasp of the subject matter.

Science is an area where we play and discover, an area where being wrong can lead to new discoveries, and an area where questions begin the scientific process. STEM/STEAM is integrated into the curriculum on a regular basis allowing students to problem solve in different ways.

Every other year we have a science fair where students may work by themselves or with a partner for several months on a project of their choosing. The project is based on the scientific method. The fair gives students an opportunity to work in an area of interest, work on a long term project and share their results with judges in order to gain public speaking skills and self-confidence.

 

Grade seven students will learn basic questions, adjectives, numbers from 1 -100, clothing, places, vocabulary and complete sentences using their newly learned lexicon.

Students in all grades will also be introduced to traditional Spanish celebrations like Dia de los Muertos at the beginning of November, Posadas at Christmas and Cinco de Mayo celebration on May 5th.

Student will have the basic knowledge to be able to succeed in Spanish I in high school.

Students begin with summer reading selections. In seventh grade two books are required: Gossamer by Lois Lowry and Peak by Roland Smith. These two books are high interest novels that prepare students for the curriculum in seventh grade. Grade 7 literature exposes students to the various genres available to them. Short stories, non-fiction selections, poetry, drama, and novels are read and discussed during the year.

Throughout the school year, students read the entire Giver series by Lois Lowry. These novels allow students to delve deeply into the study of characterization, plot, theme, and critical analysis of texts. In addition, these stories lend themselves to rich classroom discussions based on Catholic identity and morality.

In addition, students are encouraged to engage in their own independent reading through a 40 Book Challenge and sustained silent reading time given in the classroom. This allows students to foster a love for reading that will hopefully translate into continuing a life as a reader long after they leave Trinity.

In grade 7 English, grammar instruction focuses on the eight parts of speech, compound and complex sentences, subject and verb agreement, and punctuation. All of this instruction is learned through examining mentor sentences, in which students learn how to implement their grammar instruction into their own writing.

In addition, seventh grade English focuses heavily on writing through a writer’s workshop approach. Through the writer’s workshop, students learn essential writing skills to apply to the type of writing that is ultimately their choice. Throughout the year, students write within the following genres: narrative, expository, and poetry. Students are evaluated through a portfolio, which follows them to eighth grade.

A research project is required in seventh grade. Students are taught how to research a subject, form a works cited page, and cite sources. Topics are alternated yearly between science and social studies.

Welcome to 8th Grade at Trinity!  Know that this will be a year filled with many memories.  You will have Kindergarten Buddies, dances, sports, fundraisers, retreat, the class trip, graduation and many more fun times. There will be a lot of expectations on you, and as a class, as the new leaders of the school.  How you handle this responsibility is entirely up to you.  You cannot change the past; you can only change the future.

Eighth grade Science is a challenging curriculum that begins with discovering hurricanes and tracking their movements. The science of force and motion are introduced. The reality of hurricanes really makes science come alive for the students in a year where science is mostly microscopic. This year we will also study matter and elements, chemicals and what they do and how they work. All the components of energy are also discovered. Class time focuses on notes and discussion while the reading of the material is generally left to the students. Students have pop quizzes and many announced quizzes to aid in the understanding of the material. Class participation is not only encouraged; it is vital to the students’ grasp of the subject matter.

Science is an area where we play and discover, an area where being wrong can lead to new discoveries, and an area where questions begin the scientific process. STEM/STEAM is integrated into the curriculum on a regular basis allowing students to problem solve in different ways.

Every other year we have a science fair where students may work by themselves or with a partner for several months on a project of their choosing. The project is based on the scientific method. The fair gives students an opportunity to work in an area of interest, work on a long term project and share their results with judges in order to gain public speaking skills and self-confidence.

 

As with all the other grades at Trinity, students participate in weekly mass which is the basis of our faith and our mission statement.

The 7th and 8th graders work together on Morality. It is a two year course that focuses on all the facets of morality. Many tools are used including class discussion, lecture, movies and student led questions.

As a group, they participate in The Stations of the Cross during Lent. They work together on the Stations Project which has the students recreating the Stations for the whole student body on Holy Thursday.

Prayer and a relationship with God are the goals for the students at the end of the course.

Grade 8 English focuses heavily on writing through a writer’s workshop approach. Through the writer’s workshop, students learn essential writing skills to apply to the type of writing that is ultimately their choice.

Throughout the year, students write with the following genres: narrative, expository, and poetry. Students are evaluated through a portfolio.

A research project is required in eighth grade. Students are taught how to research a subject, formulate a thesis, form a works cited page, and cite sources. Topics are alternated yearly between science and social studies.

In addition, students study grammar extensively and apply that to their own writing.

Students begin with summer reading selections. In eighth grade, The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan is required reading. In addition, students have to choose one of the following novels, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaimen and Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos. We start off the year discussing these books at length and analyzing their structure.

Grade 8 literature exposes students to the various genres available to them. Short stories, non-fiction selections, fairy tales, poetry, drama, and novels are read and discussed during this year. Videos are shown to introduce authors to students and to compliment a short story or novel. Students are exposed to classical works such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

This encourages students to look at literally critically and engaged in discussions surrounding major themes. To Kill a Mockingbird opens up deep discussions on Catholic Social Teaching, as well as current event issues.

Grade eight students will continue with vocabulary, questions, jobs, numbers past 100, body parts, and reading and writing complete conversations using their lexicon.

Students in all grades will also be introduced to traditional Spanish celebrations like Dia de los Muertos at the beginning of November, Posadas at Christmas and Cinco de Mayo celebration on May 5th.

Student will have the basic knowledge to be able to succeed in Spanish I in high school.

Grade 8 students will take Pre-Algebra Part II. Students will study data analysis, two and three-dimensional geometry, probability, relations and functions, and polynomials. Periodic cumulative review assignments are given to ensure that students don’t lose the skills they have acquired while focusing new skills.

Students will be given open ended math projects where students will learn the skill of using their own background knowledge to learn how to problem solve, establish the knowns and unknowns, estimate and confirm by doing, and finally, to develop an equation to find the solution to a real life application. Problem-solving and test-taking strategies are built into the curriculum, enhancing students’ critical thinking skills and their performance on standardized tests.

Grade 8 students may be placed into math groups, determined by their scores on previous assessments. All 8th graders will take Pre-Algebra Part II. Assignments and assessments are given for 3 different skill levels; students may move from one level to another at any time during the academic year.

Grade 8 Pre Algebra is not a complete Algebra I course. Graduates should expect to be placed in Algebra I or Algebra I Honors upon entering High School.

The Grade 8 Social Studies curriculum continues where 7th grade leaves off, beginning with Ancient Rome and continuing through to the Renaissance and Reformation.  Students study the growth of civilization and the themes and trends that affect its people.