Language Arts in first and second and grades at Grace Christian Academy are organized to ensure the best education possible in an enjoyable manner. A Beka books used in class (Letters and Sounds, Language , Spelling and Poetry) go hand in hand. They allow students to be able to integrate and review concepts covered in class by delving into the different aspects that structure the English language.

A good foundation in phonics is highly recommended at Grace Christian Academy. Each phonics component is necessary for learning to read. The class is designed to use these basic building blocks to further develop analysis skills, build vocabulary, and increase reading comprehension.

A new list of 10-15 words each week from our spelling workbook also fosters an increase in vocabulary. While most of the words taught are based upon phonics and phonemic awareness, words that do not follow basic phonics rules such as sight words, contractions, and abbreviations are also taught. These lessons are further enriched through exercises and activities in creative writing and poetry.

Reading and reading comprehension is a large component in developing our English language skills. Reading enlarges our vocabulary bank, promotes thinking, and improves grammar skills. The list can go on and on. Our first grade class employs the Scott Foresman reading plan. Here at Grace Christian Academy, we are also blessed with many resources that supplement, strengthen, and enhance such learning habits. You are more than welcome to come and visit our school library any day!

Second graders make a big jump from learning how to read in first grade to getting ready to read more avidly in third grade. Hence, throughout the year second graders learn and build up the foundations for good reading comprehension. The Scott Foresman reading program we use allows students to gradually increase their reading level in a well-rounded manner. The different stories we read cover different reading strategies, increasingly difficult vocabulary, lengthier material, literary terms studies, and different types of genres and writing styles all in interesting, fun, and overall good pieces of literature.

Finally, first and second grades at Grace Christian Academy foster an environment where students are able to develop their speaking and listening skills in various school settings. Their abilities to communicate and comprehend in English are of utmost importance, especially as they learn to apply such skills in other aspects of their lives as well.

First grade at Grace Christian Academy uses the A Beka Arithmetic 1 Curriculum, which lays a strong foundation for understanding mathematics. As the lessons are presented through four exciting themes throughout the year (zoo, farm, ocean and spring), each new math concept is approached with much eagerness and confidence. Each lesson is supported by visual aids. Concepts are also reinforced withengaging games that encourage students to apply what they have learned in class. Also, as we understand that not all students can be expected to grasp a new concept the first time around. Spiral review allows ample opportunities for students to understand and master important concepts.

By the end of the year, all first grade students should have built a solid foundation in arithmetic with the following: counting to 100, tens and ones place value, number writing to 70, reading cardinal and ordinal number words, understanding and memorizing addition and subtraction facts for Families 1-6, solving story problems, recognizing and drawing plane geometric shape, continuing patterns, counting pennies and dimes, reading horizontal bar graphs and drawing bars, reading a calendar, memorizing the days of the week, and so much more!

Second grade math is really fun! Students learn all the addition and subtraction families from one to seventeen and after that move on to learning their multiplication tables from one to twelve. In addition, students learn the concept of division as well as division of real numbers from zero to three. Besides computational math, students also learn how to work out varying degrees of word problems, how to measure using different units of measurement, how to draw and recognize different geometrical shapes, objects, and concepts, and lastly, how to analyze data.