Language Arts

The St. Matthew School Language Arts program integrates a variety of disciplines. The students experience literature, grammar, penmanship, phonics, spelling, writing, speaking, and listening in a well-balanced curriculum. Computer literacy enhances the students' background as they prepare to become effective communicators. The Language Arts program provides challenging opportunities to develop student's skills to read, write, speak, and listen for use beyond their years at St. Matthew School.

Math

The Math program encourages problem solving, math reasoning, logical and critical thinking skills, as well as emphasizing the basic concepts of computation, use of manipulatives, and various strategies for problem solving. Assessment is accomplished through daily homework, individual observations, tests, and projects. The program complies with the NCTM standards.

Physical Education/Art/Music

P. E. - All students in grades 1-8 take P.E. twice each week. Students in kindergarten take P.E. once each week.

Art - All students in grades 1-6 take art on a weekly basis.The focus of art is to give students the tools needed to cope in a visual society, Students in grades 7-8 may take art as an elective.

Music - Choral music is offered to all students in K-8 weekly. All students participate in a Spring Musical.

Science

The strong science program at St. Matthew helps students gain the well-rounded education they need for understanding their world. Woven throughout the program are opportunities for students to use skills that range from observing to thinking critically and making decisions. "Hands-on" activities and labs offer learning experiences vital to their development. Concept continuity is ensured by a balanced treatment at all levels of life science, physical science, earth science and health.

Social Studies

Social Studies include history, geography, map skills, cultures, and current events. Students in grades K-4 begin learning about family and friends, neighborhoods, communities, states and regions. Fifth grade students study U.S. history through the Reconstruction period. Grade six students cover the Eastern Hemisphere and grade seven covers world geography. The curriculum ends with eighth grade's study of American Government and U.S. History from the Industrialization to the present day. Eighth grade students are required to pass the Federal Constitution Test and the Illinois Constitution Test.

Spanish

Every student at St. Matthew School is exposed to the language and cultures of the Hispanic world. The focus of grades K-4 is building vocabulary. Grades 5 and 6 are introduced to some of the basic grammatical principles of the language. Junior high students are given the option of formally continuing their Spanish studies for which to better prepare them for the study of Spanish in high school or they may choose to take Art. All students, regardless of grade level, are presented the material using a variety of teaching methods that focus on oral, aural and written comprehension. The inclusion of Spanish as part of the St. Matthew School curriculum allows students to develop the global perspective necessary to succeed in today's world.

Technology

At St. Matthew School technology instruction is integrated throughout all grade levels, and all subjects. The school computer lab has 29 eMac computers, three color laser printers and a large screen TV for instruction. Every teacher has an iBook computer. There are three network color laser printers throughout the school. There are three mobile wireless laptop computer labs for use in the classrooms. For check out there are 2 projectors, 11 digital cameras, and 3 digital video cameras. Every classroom has a digitial camera, TV, VCR/DVD, a color all-in-one inkjet printer and 1-4 student computers. There is Internet access with content filtering throughout the school. There is a school server for file storage. Telephones are in every classroom.