Three Points Basic Curriculum Grades 1-6

There are two classes of each grade 1-6; class size is limited to 25 in each class.

Bible

Children are given an overview of the Old Testament stories and the life and work of Christ. Most importantly our goals challenge children with spiritual truths and practical applications establishing God's Word as the final guide and source for our lives. God is an integral part of all aspects of our kindergarten curriculum.

Mathematics

New "Math Expressions" Curriculum coming 2009-10 - Read about it here!

The goal of the BCS Math program is to introduce beginning math concepts through the use of hands-on materials. Students explore manipulations, sort and classify objects, work at number stations, perform patterning and graphing activities. This approach helps children move from the concrete to the symbolic level as they see the underlying patterns found in mathematics.

Language Arts

Recognizing that children learn differently, our program utilizes three basic learning styles - Auditory (phonics), Visual (sight vocabulary), and Tactile (hands-on, manipulation). Our program stresses phonics by having the children learn the 44 sounds of the English language. Through the Baratta-Lorton Program, reading is approached in the same way as math, with hands-on materials. Students participate in learning stations which include word and picture cards, sound to letter stamping activities, worksheets, and books. The children can progress from two and three sound blending exercises, to understanding phrases and sentences. They also begin the creative writing and spelling aspects of the program. Also covered is the sight approach using the pre-primer Dolch word list. Whole language is also a part of the program as the children are surrounded with the best of children's literature and write many books.

Science and Social Studies

These units help the kindergarten child to explore God's world at his/her level of understanding. Topics include safety, Indians, Pilgrims, holidays, seasons, birds, magnets, health and nutrition, the desert, transportation, soil and planting, collections, farm, circus and zoo animals, and a study of Hawaii.

Art

Art includes developing an appreciation for the beauty of God's world. Students learn the correct use of crayons, paints and scissors. Craft projects are included in the curriculum.

Music

A specialist teaches music twice a week to all students in grades K-6. The pupils sing songs, choruses and hymns. With the instruction from the music specialist they learn the fundamentals of music including the staff, treble clef, values and the names of notes. Students learn music history, theory, music appreciation, vocal and listening skills. Third and fourth grade students learn to read music and play the recorder. Performance is important to students and parents and is used to enhance the educational program.

Band and Choir

Beginning in the fifth grade students choose to participate in either classroom music or instrumental band, which includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments. Both fifth and sixth grade bands rehearse in the band room at Bellevue Christian's Secondary campus on Clyde Hill. Transportation to the Secondary campus is provided via BCS bus. Fifth and sixth grade students may join the school choir, which performs at school concerts, chapels and community venues, under the music teacher's direction.

Library

Students attend a library class weekly. The librarian prepares age-appropriate activities that include stories and lessons in library and research skills. Students have time to select books for assignments and leisure reading. The library is also open during selected recess periods.

Physical Education

Students attend PE at least two times per week. PE is taught by the classroom teacher, who plans activities aimed at developing coordination, strength, flexibility, balance, fitness, and sport-specific skills and knowledge through demonstrations, play, exercise, and games.

Computer Education

Students in grades K-6 attend class in the computer lab once per week for up to forty minutes. Keyboarding and typing skills represent a major area of emphasis; our goal is that sixth grade students leave Three Points with the ability to type at least 25-wpm using touch-typing. Research by Apple Computer has shown that students who type more than 22 wpm write more. Word processing, computer literacy, some basic programming concepts, and computer ethics and etiquette are some of the other broad topics covered. Each classroom has a "technology package", which consists of a 27" TV, VCR, cutting edge PC, and printer, which is used to enhance teaching and learning.

Enrichment

The enrichment program is a pullout class designed to provide bright and achieving students in second through sixth grade with enriching experiences in the areas of their strengths. The program includes basic enrichment for grades 2-6, math enrichment for grades 2-6, and independent learners in grades 3-6. Go the Enrichment page now!

Student Academic Services

A pullout academic therapy program is available, at an additional cost, for students who have been diagnosed as having difficulty in learning. Therapists are trained to use the program developed through the National Institute of Learning Disabilities (NILD). Separate information is available upon request.

Reading Resource

Our reading resource specialist provides supplemental assistance in the area of language arts with an emphasis in reading skills fluency in a small-group pullout program. Eligible students are those who need an extra boost in reading skills at their respective grade level.

School Counseling

The school counseling program is designed to encourage wholeness and maturity among our students. The counselor teaches skills and provides support through whole class activities, small group experiences, and one-on-one counseling. The counselor is available to consult with parents upon request. A list of community resources is available for outside referrals.

Activities

Among our in-school and extra-curricular activities we include: musical concerts, dramatic performances, weekly chapels, the Washington State Math Olympiad, the National Geography Bee, local and regional speech meets, service projects, after-school foreign languages, a student-written campus newsletter, field trips, school yearbook, jog-a-thon, 5th grade outdoor education, track meet for grades 4-6, Imagination Celebration, Grandparents Day, and much more.