The mission of Ascension Lutheran School is to raise caring servants to extend life in Christ to diverse people by enabling our students to acquire knowledge, work habits, thinking skills and processes needed to help them become productive, respected citizens.

We are dedicated to accomplishing this mission by providing a positive, safe, Christ-centered environment in which each child can realize his or her fullest potential. We believe that this is best accomplished when caring Christian teachers work together in partnership with the home for the well-being of the child.

Lower School Curriculum

Language Arts:
Reading, spelling, grammar, handwriting, phonics, vocabulary, and creative writing are all part of the Language Arts Experience at Ascension. Each lower school class spends a 90 minute block of instruction each day in the Language Arts.

Reading:
Reading is taught using a combination of phonics and whole language instruction. Teachers use traditional textbook basal readers, workbooks, and novels to introduce longer pieces of literature to students. The selection of these novels is often done to coordinate reading with other curriculum areas such as science or social studies. Teachers in lower grades also feel that it is important that students experience stories read aloud to them each day to encourage the love of story and teach the flow of language.

Many classes have a rigorous book report schedule to encourage students to read outside the classroom. Ascension’s annual Literature Fair is also designed to encourage outside reading and develop comprehension skills through the use of a variety of art and writing projects.

Vocabulary:
Vocabulary instruction as a separate component of our language studies is seen as vital at Ascension. Students begin to work with a program of vocabulary study that teaches synonyms, antonyms, parts of speech, usage, and comprehension of words as early as third grade.

Grammar:
Good grammar is essential to success in school, on standardized tests, and in the professional world. Ascension uses a traditional approach to grammar instruction and expects every child to learn to write and speak correctly. Grammar instruction is an integrated part of our Language Arts studies.

Handwriting:
The De’Nealian method of handwriting is taught at Ascension. Students begin to learn cursive at the end of second grade.

Phonics:
Phonics is taught as a subject in its own right in grades K-2. Phonics is integrated into the language arts studies in all of the lower grades.

Creative Writing:
Writing is a very important component in our language instruction. K works on learning to write words and simple sentences. Grade 1 learns to write complete sentences independently. Grade 2 students work on integrating sentences into simple paragraphs. Grade 3 students work on writing more complex stories. Grades 4 and 5 learn to edit and polish their stories and begin work on research writing.

Math:
Students in lower grades have one hour of math instruction a day. The lower grades incorporate a hands on approach to teaching math that includes the use of math manipulative, games, cooperative learning, and traditional practice and drill. Mastery of math facts is considered vital and teachers in all lower school grades use math facts drills to encourage students to learn the basic computation facts.

Religion:
Ascension is a Christian school and as such religion is a very important part of our curriculum. Our studies focus on traditional Bible stories, memory work, songs, and an introduction to the Lutheran faith. Religion classes are held four days a week and once a week students attend a school chapel service.

Social Studies:
Our social studies curriculum is designed to teach children more about the world in which we live. Instruction uses maps, stories, novels, art, field trips, and CDs as well as traditional textbooks. Students in grade four take classes in Maryland History which is in line with the county social studies guidelines.

Science:
Our lower school faculty recognizes that young children learn best by doing and so have adopted a hands on lab based science curriculum for grades K-3. Students in these grades complete 3 major modules a year including studies about weather, sound, soil, plant, chemistry, geology and electricity. Our curriculum is enriched with trips to area science centers and the Smithsonian. Teachers supplement labs with a series of trade books and CD’s. Students in grades 4 and 5 use a more traditional textbook approach to science to prepare them for the middle school curriculum. Students at Ascension participate in an annual science fair beginning in grade 4.

Spanish:
Students in lower grades have Spanish instruction about 3 times a week. Our curriculum uses a CD for the major instruction as well as teacher led activities to reinforce the vocabulary introduced by our "virtual" teacher.

PE:
Physical activity is so important for today’s children. Students in grades K-3 have two recess periods daily as well as formal PE classes to promote physical fitness. Students in grades 4 and 5 have one daily recess period. Students in grades 3-5 also work to achieve the President’s Physical Fitness Awards. Students in grades 3- Middle School have the opportunity to qualify for the Washington Area Lutheran School’s Track Meet held in the spring of the year. Students in grades K-2 enjoy after school intramural sports of T-ball and soccer led by parent volunteers.

Middle School Curriculum

Language Arts:
English is a study of basic grammar and writing techniques using the book Language Arts Today by McGraw Hill. Students also study 20 vocabulary words every two weeks based on the Saddler vocabulary series.

In Literature the various genres of literature are studied using the Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes series. In addition several novels are also read throughout the school year.

This is the general format that is followed in Middle School. The level of difficulty of course increases as the grade level increases.

Social Studies and Religion

Social Studies:
The sixth grade social studies curriculum at Ascension Lutheran School is World History. The text used is World, an Adventure in Time and Place.

There will be two projects assigned during the year. The first one will be started during the first marking period and completed during the second. The topic will be Stone Age Civilization. The second will be started during the third marking period and completed during the fourth. The topic will be Greece or Rome.

Religion:
Sixth grade religion emphasizes Basic Christian Doctrine. The course is introduced with several lessons on the origins and compilation of scripture. The next section introduces the Lutheran Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion. The third section introduces the basic teachings of Christ using the book of Matthew as a backdrop.

Through out the year the students will also study:

1. The function of the church calendar used by many Christians.
2. The history of the Lutheran Church and the Christian community.

Memory Work is also a part of the Religion course.

 Social Studies:
The seventh grade social studies curriculum at Ascension Lutheran School is the geography of Western Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Social Studies Projects:
There will be one project and one written report assigned during the year. The project will be started during the first quarter and completed during the second. The focus will be Western Europe. The written report will be started during the third quarter and completed during the fourth. The topic will be Africa.

Religion:
Seventh Grade Religion is a course on Old Testament History.

Through out the year the students will also study:

1. The function of the church calendar used by many Christians.
2. The history of the Lutheran church and the Christian community.

Memory Work is a part of the Religion course.

Social Studies:
The eighth grade social studies curriculum at Ascension Lutheran School is centered on American History, 1660-1870. The text is Creating America, A History of the US—Beginnings to Reconstruction. The text also includes a short introduction of US History since Reconstruction.

Social Studies Projects:
There will be two projects assigned during the year. The first one will be assigned during the first quarter and completed during the second. The topic will be 18^th century America. The second project is worked on during the third and fourth quarters. The students will write 7 summaries of news articles from major newspapers dealing with the branches of government and constitutional issues.

Religion:
Eighth Grade Religion is a course on New Testament History. The backdrop for the course is the Gospel of Mark and the Book of Acts.

1. The history and the function of the church calendar used by many Christians
2. The history of the Lutheran Church and the Christian community.

Memory Work is a part of the Religion Course.

Science and Math:
8th Graders: Algebra 1 or Pre-Algebra, Physics, Chemistry

7th Grade: General Pre-Algebra Math, Biology

6th Grade: General Math, General Science Units