Elementary Student Life Milestones at OHCS
Kindergarten
Kindergarten is a time of beginnings in which children encounter novel challenges and events that excite and stretch the youngest of learners. Kindergarten students flourish under gentle guidance, succinct boundaries, inspired challenges, along with intentional grace and compassion! Students typically enter kindergarten relatively dependent, often expecting things to be done for them; by the end of the year, they should be ready for first grade; equipped with the tools, courage, and motivation to engage more independently in their academics and in life-skills.
As reading abilities progress, students will seek to satiate their vocabulary bank. They should write legibly in print; crafting completing sentences. Peer relationships deepen as they practice empathy and the connecting of ideas. Encouraging good character traits like self-control, braving social skills, and applying learned knowledge, is really important for young kids to keep growing and being successful both in academics and at life.
As reading abilities progress, students will seek to satiate their vocabulary bank. They should write legibly in print; crafting completing sentences. Peer relationships deepen as they practice empathy and the connecting of ideas. Encouraging good character traits like self-control, braving social skills, and applying learned knowledge, is really important for young kids to keep growing and being successful both in academics and at life.
1st Grade
First grade is a time of many firsts! During this first year of formal education, children experience many new challenges that both excite and stretch these young learners. First grade students require gentle guidance, nurturing, and a tremendous amount of love and assurance, even as they are called to greater amounts of diligence, stewardship, and thoughtfulness than previously required. They learn to work and collaborate in groups and to follow muti-step instructions.
The primary goal of first grade at Oak Harbor Christian School is to equip students to thrive as independent learners. In addition to merely engaging academic content, mastery and independent application of specific academic and social skills are essential for development and paramount for future success in class.
The primary goal of first grade at Oak Harbor Christian School is to equip students to thrive as independent learners. In addition to merely engaging academic content, mastery and independent application of specific academic and social skills are essential for development and paramount for future success in class.
2nd Grade
Second grade is where children grow in the understanding of their world, both externally (what they can observe) and internally (what they can process). They learn things like the appropriate give-and-take of conversation, to count money and tell the time. They are actively recognizing their own emotions and those of others around them more keenly; learning appropriate ways to express those emotions. Additionally, they are learning what it means to be a good friend; practicing friendship skills like being a kind, supportive, trustworthy, and good listener.
Essential at this stage is growing in personal responsibility. This might look like steadily teaching your student how to get themselves ready for school; taking personal care of their belongings; helping with specific household chores; or even take the shape of seeking ways to be a helper at school or in their community!
Essential at this stage is growing in personal responsibility. This might look like steadily teaching your student how to get themselves ready for school; taking personal care of their belongings; helping with specific household chores; or even take the shape of seeking ways to be a helper at school or in their community!
3rd Grade
Third grade is a year of transition. Students enter third grade having mastered the phonograms and skills needed to decode and spell most English words. While receiving continued formal spelling instruction, students transition from learning how to read, to reading to learn. Strengthening comprehension skills and learning to read expository texts is an integral part of the third-grade curriculum and continues to be vital for students as they proceed to fourth grade.
Students are guided into the management of learning materials, transitioning from workbooks to textbooks! At this stage students take on more personal responsibility; owning their own learning process. They learn to work responsibly in groups and organize their own materials. In addition to simply learning new things in class, being able to use important academic and social skills on their own is really important for students to grow up and be successful in their studies later on.
Students are guided into the management of learning materials, transitioning from workbooks to textbooks! At this stage students take on more personal responsibility; owning their own learning process. They learn to work responsibly in groups and organize their own materials. In addition to simply learning new things in class, being able to use important academic and social skills on their own is really important for students to grow up and be successful in their studies later on.
4th Grade
Fourth grade students enter school eager to learn and please those charged with their care. Students continue to memorize and absorb information quickly and grow in their ability to read for themselves. With full-chaptered books within their grasp, students leave fourth grade with a deeper understanding of content matter. They learn to do research and how to put that skill together with what they've learned about working in groups.
At this stage many students gain newfound confidence and independence, something we should support and help develop in a healthy way. Students are guided to set goals and to learn how to manage time wisely. As in third grade, being able to use important academic and social skills on their own is really important for students to grow up and be successful in their studies later on.
At this stage many students gain newfound confidence and independence, something we should support and help develop in a healthy way. Students are guided to set goals and to learn how to manage time wisely. As in third grade, being able to use important academic and social skills on their own is really important for students to grow up and be successful in their studies later on.
5th Grade
Fifth grade is a year of great transition for many students. They not only grow physically, but also demonstrate great growth academically, cognitively, and spiritually. Students seem to mature faster and transition from dependent to fully independent learners. They're transitioning from reading to analyzing for deeper meaning, from whole numbers to fractions, from being model-followers to becoming models themselves for younger students.
While fifth graders better learn the content covered, our main goal is preparing them for middle school. At this stage, students are equipped with the necessary tools and skills to be successful in the school of logic. Teachers focus on building skills in critical thinking, self-directed learning, and applying knowledge. The logic school will further nurture their own gifts through discussion, debate, and reasoned thinking.
Grasping these academic and life abilities helps fifth graders move to middle school ready to thrive there and beyond. Qualities like diligence, organization, and accountability become central in our aim to equip students' growth in faith and service toward others.
While fifth graders better learn the content covered, our main goal is preparing them for middle school. At this stage, students are equipped with the necessary tools and skills to be successful in the school of logic. Teachers focus on building skills in critical thinking, self-directed learning, and applying knowledge. The logic school will further nurture their own gifts through discussion, debate, and reasoned thinking.
Grasping these academic and life abilities helps fifth graders move to middle school ready to thrive there and beyond. Qualities like diligence, organization, and accountability become central in our aim to equip students' growth in faith and service toward others.