“Educating the whole child”

Student Academics

Good Shepherd Christian Academy desires to work closely with the parents to support them in their greatest responsibility of rearing children in the “training and instruction of the Lord.” The following information is to give parents an understanding of the subjects we teach as evaluated on our quarterly report cards.

Please click on the categories of instruction below to read the philosophy held by GSCA:(Preschool click here)

Elementary

Bible and Spiritual Growth
Chapel
Computer
Conduct
Effort and Study Habits
Handwriting
Language,Literature, English Grammar and Composition
Literature
Math
Music
Art
Phonics
Physical Education and Fitness
Reading Comprehension, Oral and Library Reading
Science
Social Studies
Spanish
Spelling and Vocabulary

BIBLE AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH
Association for Christian Schools International
The Bible curriculum leads students to hear, read, study, memorize and obey God’s Word. The curriculum includes an overview of the Old and New Testaments, character studies, a study of the life of Christ and the early church, doctrinal studies as well as application to the student’s lives. Teaching and application make a solid foundation for Godly wisdom and Christ-like character.

CHAPEL
Chapel service is held each week and is administered by the Pastoral staff of First Baptist Church of Duxbury. Chapel services include singing praise songs, giving to the support of our “foster children” and a lesson that challenges our students to grow and put their faith into action.

COMPUTER
Age-appropriate scope and sequence
Instruction at Good Shepherd reflects the beliefs that all students need to learn to use the computer as an instructional tool. Students need to be able to access information from a variety of sources and then analyze and evaluate it. The incremental program includes keyboarding, editing, printing reports, drawing, painting, accessing databases, importing graphics, using a digital camera and creating a multi-media presentation.

CONDUCT
Christ-like character is encouraged through instruction and modeling by our staff for our students. (Luke 6:40) We believe character is developed through obedience and obedience leads to inner self-discipline that is essential to the “whole” child: emotional, physical, spiritual, intellectual and social.

EFFORT AND STUDY HABITS
Students are encouraged and trained to apply themselves in their studies. Setting a standard and expecting that the students will complete their assignments to the best of their ability within the time given fosters good study habits.

HANDWRITING
Zaner-Bloser Educational Publishers
Handwriting is taught in a systematic manuscript method in kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grades. Cursive writing is introduced in the third grade and reinforced thereafter.

LANGUAGE, LITERATURE, ENGLISH GRAMMAR AND COMPOSITION
A Beka Book, Inc.: Grades 1-4
Language communication is a beautiful gift from God. The Bible gives us a standard for the proper use of language: to benefit others and build them up. Language learning takes place cross- curricula and is important to all subject areas. Our goal is that our students will learn to communicate through interactive experiences in speaking, writing, reading, and listening. The skills of reading, writing, vocabulary study and spelling are effectively taught through meaningful lessons. Our students learn that they have both a freedom and a responsibility in how they use our language.

LITERATURE
Mosdos Press:Grades 5-8
Students are introduced to world-class literature through classic and contemporary works that are broadly represented, intellectually challenging and morally framed. They will study six genres: short stories, poetry, drama, nonfiction, the novella and the novel. In addition to reading skill instruction, students are also taught language art skills in writing and vocabulary.

MATH K-4
Saxon Math
Math helps the students deal more efficiently with the quantitative and spatial aspects of God’s creation. Saxon Math is a hands-on series that emphasizes manipulatives and mental mathematics. This basal program is designed with a multi-sensory approach to learning and enables students to develop a solid foundation in the language and basic concepts of math.

Math 5-8
Saxon Math
Saxon math builds on the hands-on, activity-centered approach of the k-4 series. The focus now shifts from the use of concrete objects to mathematical modeling and problem-solving using pencil and paper. This is an incremental program with continuous practice and review.

MUSIC
Various Selections
Music class is held weekly. The goals behind the lessons are biblical: Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. (Psalm 33:3) and “…burst into jubilant song with music… (Psalm 98:4) It is our desire that our students would enjoy the gift of music the Lord has given to us whether they play with skill or sing with joy.

ART
Harcourt Education
Art provides a way to express what humans think, feel or believe. Student’s minds are enriched as various themes are explored. Their imaginations are broadened as they encounter various works of well-known artists and their creativity is expressed through exploring various art techniques.

PHONICS
SRA, Open Court Reading
Phonics is the key to reading and writing. Phonics skills help students connect sounds to letter symbols, decode written language and helps students to spell properly. With this approach, students understand how language fits together to form words and sentences with meaning.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND FITNESS
Our classes follow more of a recreational approach to physical education than a traditional approach. The students have an opportunity to play team games as well as experience lessons in flexibility and endurance. Learning to play with good sportsmanship is also a very important part of team play.

READING COMPREHENSION, ORAL AND LIBRARY READING
SRA, Open Court Reading; Kindergarten-Grade 4
Reading opens a window to a bigger world. Through the use of specific instruction, readers, critical reflective reading, comprehension skill-building workbooks, journals and other related activities, students learn to decode, comprehend, evaluate morally and apply positively what they read.

SCIENCE
Association for Christian Schools International
Science is the study of God’s creation. Through science, students learn the study of God’s order and provision in His physical creation. Science is taught from the known to the unknown; the aim is to help them not just learn science vocabulary but to understand the basic principles of science. Hands-on activities, demonstrations, projects and experiments are included.

SOCIAL STUDIES
A Beka Book
History is the study of people and time. Our American heritage is taught in Kindergarten through grade 3. Basic freedoms, good citizenship, the history of the American flag and the study of groups of people that made valuable contributions to our American heritage are included. Overviews of American history, Massachusetts’s history, Old World History and New World History are taught for 2 quarters each year for grades 4-6. Geography studies are highlighted and integrated with the history lessons.

SPANISH
Christian Spanish
Language is a gift from God and we desire that our students be skilled in language and the development of communication. The basics in the Spanish language skills are taught in enjoyable, effective lessons. The students learn to listen, speak and write in Spanish. We seek to use the optimal time to learn language in the elementary years through age 12.

SPELLING AND VOCABULARY
A Beka Book
The instruction includes lessons in phonics, visual imagery and semantics.
Different activities are provided to accommodate a variety of learning styles.
Language arts integration is accomplished through writing, vocabulary development, grammar study and dictionary skills.

Preschool Academics

Planned within a framework of Christian philosophy and purpose, Good Shepherd’s Preschool curriculum includes: sharing and conversation times, Bible stories, story time, songs and fingerplays; creative art activities, crafts, games and large muscle activities; exposure to shapes, colors, numbers and letters, and the celebration of birthdays and holidays. We look at our involvement with your child as a great privilege in helping him/her begin school in a safe, loving environment where learning is fun.

Teddy Bears (age 3 by October 31st)
Tuesday and Thursday 9:15-12:00 Noon
Class size: 12 children
Lead teacher and Assistant Teacher

Pandas (age 4 by December 31st)
Tuesday Wednesday Thursday 9:00-11:45 AM
Class size-12 children
Lead Teacher and Assistant Teacher