Elementary

The reading program at BCA is well-established with proven results. From kindergarten through fifth grade, we have implemented a phonics and guided reading program that provides small groups of students the opportunity to learn various reading strategies with guidance from the teacher so they will possess the skills and knowledge required to read increasingly more difficult texts on their own. Writing is a challenge for most young students, so we aim to remove obstacles and build skills in a developmentally appropriate manner using a writing workshop approach. Grammar instruction is chiefly designed to build better writers.

Our mathematics program balances conceptual and computational skills knowing that both skills are vital to building the prerequisite knowledge for increasingly higher levels of mathematical reasoning and problem solving. Traditional math skills are taught along with "number sense" strategies as students are taught with a balanced approach to both fluency and problem-solving skills.

Our approach to social studies is literature-based knowing that quality literature extends the social studies curriculum beyond textbook constraints. We want students to be drawn in, engaged, and able to see social studies as much more than a dry accumulation of facts and dates. Kindergarten through second grade take a unit-study approach to social studies beginning with their communities and expanding out to their state, country, and all the nations of the world. Third through fifth grades study the history of the United States chronologically beginning with explorers and moving through time studying exciting topics such as pilgrims, colonial days, revolution, the Civil War, westward expansion, the gold rush, and the 20th century from a cultural perspective. Timelines and maps are prominent in every classroom to give students a consistent sense of time and place as they grow from grade to grade. Social studies is taught from a distinctly Biblical worldview and students are challenged to see all of history as a providential unfolding of “His-story.”

We view science education as an incredible opportunity to worship God as Creator and Sustainer of the whole world. Our goals for science education are discovery-driven. We believe science should be a delightful subject that every student anticipates even as they develop critical observation and investigative skills. The hands-on approach we take is also “minds-on” and developed with a systematic, inquiry-based approach to science that also involves our outdoor learning environment as part of their classroom. The curriculum we use is research-based and founded on the principle that children learn science concepts best by doing science. Doing science means hands-on experiences. Live animal habitats are motivating for students and stimulate inquiry and curiosity. Students at all grade levels investigate, experiment, gather data, organize results, and draw conclusions based on their own activities.

Our elementary curriculum is rounded out with physical education, art, music, social-emotional learning, and other enrichment “specials” such as Outdoor Learning and Design Studio which incorporates computer technology and Lego Robotics.