Curriculum
The elementary school has a number of curriculum resources that we utilize in instruction. Teachers connect their scope and sequence to a variety of standards that guide the teaching and learning to happen in each classroom.
Teaching for Transformation:
In the 2019-2020 school year, two elementary teachers became early adopters of a teaching framework called Teaching for Transformation. In 2020-2021, all elementary teachers will adopt the framework. This framework helps students see their places in God’s story in every part of life and every subject in school. Teachers work to help students develop habits and characteristics that we see as consistent with the Biblical story and teachers design learning experiences where students are pushed to do real work in our community.
Language Arts:
FAST and Units of Study in Phonics (Lucy Calkins) guide our lower grades in helping students develop phonics skills and early reading skills. In addition, all teachers use “The Daily 5” to provide language arts instruction to students that meets students at his/her level. As part of reading instruction, teachers use the CAFE menu of strategies to help students access books that interest them. The 4 areas addressed are Comprehension, Accuracy, Fluency, and Expanding Vocabulary. For specific writing instruction, all elementary classrooms follow Lucy Calkins’ Units of Study in Writing to help students develop a wide range of writing skills and strategies.
Math:
All elementary classrooms use Math in Focus as the main resource for teaching math. Students become competent in math facts and also work to develop critical thinking skills and math reasoning.
Science:
The New Mexico science standards along with the NextGen science standards guide the science learning that happens at RCES. Students learn about classification, living things, the earth around them and so much more.
Social Studies:
Again the New Mexico standards help guide our social studies curriculum. Students learn about a wide range of topics including economics and jobs and the history of the first Americans.
Bible:
We use a Bible curriculum from Christian Schools International that helps students see God’s story in a good balance of learning about the Old Testament and the New Testament. Students learn key Bible verses to carry with them through their lives.
Navajo Language and Culture:
Students access Navajo Language and Culture from a variety of resources but always from a Christian perspective.
Physical Education:
All students learn developmentally appropriate physical skills and activities weekly.
Diverse Learners:
We seek to meet the needs of a wide range of learners. We offer reading and math support through a Title 1 funded program where teachers work with small groups of students to help build foundational math and reading skills. In addition, teachers differentiate instruction through the use of small groups, centers, and leveled assignments.
Standardized Testing:
Students in grades 3-5 take a computerized, adaptive test 2 times each year. The NWEA MAP test measures students current level (rather than having set questions that students either get right or wrong). This assessment measures growth in math, reading and language. Beyond this, students are assessed formally and informally in classrooms so that teachers can best meet each students needs.
Fine Arts
At Rehoboth Christian Elementary School we desire for all students to develop the gifts God has given them in many areas. In daily classroom activities, students express themselves in a wide variety of ways. In addition, students develop their musical and artistic abilities.
Music:
Students at Rehoboth Christian Elementary School engage in music learning two times each week. They learn the fundamentals of music through a fast-paced, interactive curriculum. Through the music curriculum, students develop a strong sense of rhythm and pitch while honing their ability to sing beautifully. The playful curriculum uses a variety of types of music that students return to throughout the curriculum.
In addition to music class, all students at RCES participate in either the Christmas program or a spring program each year.
Visual Arts:
All students participate in art class once each week. In art class, they develop a wide range of artistic skills and concepts. Students display artwork in a variety of locations and for the past two years, they have participated in the Global Art Exchange program.