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Academics + Curriculum

developing a christian worldview

Elementary
Middle School
High School

Overview

A biblical worldview

GCS makes every effort to provide teachers with high quality curriculum resources. The majority of our resources come from researched based textbook publishers written from a Biblical worldview. All other resources have been vetted and teachers have been trained how to use these resources while keeping a Biblical worldview as the foundation for learning.

Elementary Curriculum

Kindergarten - 5th grade

  • Taught by homeroom teacher
  • Learning targets focused on Arizona’s English Language Arts Standards
  • Equip students in applying the knowledge of God to how they think, learn, and interact with the world around them and enjoy a lifetime of reading.
  • Teach students to enjoy all types of literature from a large selection of genres
  • Teach students to analyze, interpret, and evaluate everything they read from a biblical worldview
  • Differentiated reading instruction with reading groups
  • Systematic approach to teaching phonics beginning with phonemic awareness in Kinder and progressing to systematic phonics instruction mid-Kindergarten and into 1st and 2nd grades.
  • Vocabulary taught in context and the direct instruction of word parts
  • Fluent reading practice through silent and oral readings
  • Writing instruction is inclusive of writing of varying lengths for various purposes (opinion, explanatory, narratives)
  • Taught by homeroom teacher
  • Vertically aligned in grades K-5 which continual themes of: God tells his story in the Bible, God’s word is truth, God loves everyone, everyone needs to come to a saving faith in Jesus, Spiritual growth in Christ is applied through: Christlike behavior evangelism, ministry, stewardship, and apologetics, to grow spiritually the disciplines of Bible study, prayer, and worship are needed, students need to know and understand spiritual concepts
  • Scripture memorization
  • Special lessons for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter
  • Overarching goal is to develop a Biblical worldview through which to examine and analyze life and interact with the world around them with the primary purpose being to love God and love people
  •  
  • Taught by math specialists who come to the homeroom classroom daily (except for Kindergarten)
  • Learning targets focused on Arizona Mathematics Standards
  • Learning progresses from concrete to abstract models
  • Taught at grade level
  • Number sense development using manipulatives to abstract representations, not just following a procedure
  • Spiral review integrated into daily lessons
  • Hands-on learning to solidify mathematical skills and concepts
  • Daily lessons have opportunities for basic math facts to grow a student’s math fluency and automaticity
  • Real-life problem solving opportunities to promote critical thinking skills
  • Lessons focus on the Creator of order and the importance of math as a tool for making wise use of God’s creation.
  • Taught by elementary science specialists
    • K-1st: 1 day/week
    • 2nd-5th: 2 days/week
  • Hands on format to allow students to interact with science
  • Follow Next Generation Science Standards to prepare students for middle and high school
  • Every lesson is tackled from a Biblical worldview with a continual theme of God’s design throughout His creation
  • Taught by homeroom teacher
  • Lessons point back to history beginning in Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created” and God’s faithfulness through all times
  • Evaluation of primary and secondary sources, cultures, and events from a biblical worldview
  • development of foundational understanding of geography, economics, history, government and civics
  • Fostering the desire to become a life-long learner who values, freedom, equality, and individual responsibilities
  • Prepare students to engage in and make decision about their world through a biblical lens

Middle School Curriculum

6th - 8th grade

  • Taught by ELA teacher
  • ELA standards are a band of standards that are lay the foundational skills for all analytical reading and writing in high school and beyond
  • Critical reading and writing skills
  • Narrative, explanatory, and argumentative writing
  • Targeted comprehension strategies
  • Examine the elements of literature through short stories, poetry, and novels as they explore text complexity. 
  • Increase their critical thinking skills by developing and producing writing for a variety of tasks, purposes and audiences using argumentative, informational, and narrative writing types
  • Vocabulary and grammar skills are taught within literature units.
  • Honors classes are available for 7th and 8th grades only
  • Taught by homeroom teacher (6th only)
    • New Testament emphasizing choices and their consequences
    • A continuation of a vertical aligned curriculum starting in Kindergarten
    • Scripture memorization
    • Life application of bible lessons
    • Character and leadership lessons
  • Taught by Bible teacher (7th-8th)
    • Two-year course over 7th and 8th grades
    • Verse-by-verse inductive study methods
    • Examine the foundations of the Christian Faith using a question-answer format
    • End goal is an understanding of Christian beliefs and an improved ability to self-study God’s word
  • Taught by math teacher
  • Placement tests and teacher recommendations will be used to place students at appropriate levels.
  • 6th-8th grade math are a band of standards that are lay the foundational skills for all other math in high school and beyond
  • Learning targets focused on Arizona Mathematics Standards the class in which the student is enrolled
  • New skills introduced: ratio and rates, percentages, expressions and equations, and development of statistical thinking
  • Taught by Science teacher
  • Follow Next Generation Science Standards to prepare students for high school
  • Every lesson is tackled from a Biblical worldview with a continual theme of God’s design throughout His creation
  • Labs to allow hands on learning and application of science
  • Builds a foundation of basic knowledge of creation and how earth’s various processes work.
  • Taught by homeroom teacher (6th only)
    • Introduction of world civilizations from a biblical worldview
    • Study of geography, culture, government, religion, and history from ancient peoples from Mesopotamia through the Middles Ages
  • Taught by History teacher (7th-8th)
    • American History taught as a two-year course in 7th and 8th grades
    • The course begins with the discovery of the new world and traces the flow of American history up to the present day
    • There is a distinctive emphasis on our national core values of freedom, individualism, and equality. 
    • All content is rich in a Christian worldview and enables students to understand the historical roots and significance of the nation they live in.

  • Fine Arts classes may vary on our campuses but they include orchestra, choir, band, piano, worship team and music appreciation. 

    • 6th grade: 2 days/week

    • 7th-8th grade: daily

  • 6th grade:

    • Art – 1 day/week

    • PE – 2 days/week

    • Technology – 2 days/week

  • 7th-8th
    • One elective per semester (Art, PE, Technology)

K-5 Science

Every lesson is tackled from a Biblical worldview with a continual theme of God’s design throughout His creation

Kindergarten

Animal and Plant needs

Pushes and Pulls (Forces) 

Weather

1st

Plant and Animal Traits

Sky and Space Patterns

Sound and Light.

2nd

Plant and Animal Habitats

Materials and their uses

Earth Surfaces

3rd

Plant and Animal Environments

Extreme Weather

Forces and Motion

4th

Human Machine

The Birth of Rocks

Waves of Sound

Energizing Everything

5th

Web of Life

Watery Planet

Spaceship Earth

Chemicals

K-5 science is taught by elementary science specialists. K-1st: 1 day/week and 2nd-5th: 2 days/week.

K-5 Math

Every lesson is tackled from a Biblical worldview with a continual theme of God’s design throughout His creation

Kindergarten

counting skills (0-100)

adding and subtracting

identifying and describing shapes

understanding length and weight

1st

addition and subtraction story problems

place value

comparing numbers

Measurement (ordering and comparison)

telling time

graphs and data

Identify shapes w/ attributes

2nd

two step addition and subtraction story problems

Beginning understanding of multiplication and division

place value up to the hundreds place

measurements

2D and 3D shapes

Money

comparing numbers

3rd

multiplication and division story problems

adding and subtracting 3 digit numbers

comparing and ordering fractions

area and perimeter

sorting and classifying shapes

4th

multiplying multi digit numbers

dividing 2 digit by 1 digit numbers

comparing and rounding multi digit numbers

solving problems with fractions and decimals

Classify shapes by properties of lines and angles

measuring and drawing angles using protractors

5th

division with 2 and 3 digit numbers

adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators

solving equations with decimals to hundredths

graphing on a coordinate plane

Convert measurement w/in a given system

Kindergarten Math is taught by the homeroom teacher. 1st-5th grade Math is taught by math specialists.

Graduating Class of 2022
by the numbers

65
Students
35%
4.0 or higher Weighted GPA
95%
Of Students Will Immediately
Attend College
54%
Are Pursuing
STEM Degrees
80%
Received
Merit Based Scholarships

Colleges Attended by GCHS Graduates

Arizona State University

Azusa Pacific University

Baylor University

Belmont University

Berklee College of Music

Biola University

Boise State University

California Baptist University

Chapman University

Clemson University

Colorado Christian University

Dallas Baptist University

Grand Canyon University

Harvard College

Iowa State University

Johns Hopkins University

Lipscomb University

Michigan State University

North Carolina State

Northern Arizona University

Northwestern University

Oklahoma Christian University

Pennsylvania State University

Pepperdine University

Rhodes College

Samford University

San Diego State University

Southern Methodist University

Texas A&M University

Texas Christian University

The Master’s University

Ohio State University

US Air Force Academy

US Military Academy West Point

University of Alabama

University of Arizona

University of California, San Diego

University of Colorado, Boulder

University of Kansas

University of Louisiana

University of Nebraska, Lincoln

University of Notre Dame

University of Washington

Vanguard University

+more

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Exceptional Academic Resources

GEAR PROGRAM

Gilbert Christian Schools believes that all students are valued and cherished. We desire to provide Christian education for children with unique learning styles including those who are gifted, or who have learning challenges. In an effort to meet these needs, we have established the GEAR Program.

  • Reading Intervention with a certified reading specialist
  • Tutoring before or after school with GCS staff
  • Speech and Language Therapy
  • GEAR ELA or GEAR Math support
  • Additional accommodations or modifications in the general education classroom
  • Tutoring before or after school with GCS staff
  • Speech and Language Therapy
  • GEAR ELA (modified instruction and curriculum)
  • GEAR Math (modified instruction and curriculum)
  • GEAR Prep For Success organization and study skills course
  • Accommodations or modifications in the general classroom
  • Review all previous data regarding your child’s educational history, including evaluations and services provided in order to create the most appropriate AAP for your child. This plan may include student goals, accommodations, modifications, and recommendations
  • Perform academic achievement assessments and provide progress monitoring
  • Request further evaluation. (Information about suggested testing options can be provided)
  • Provide academic and other necessary interventions and supports for your child in the GEAR classroom
  • Access to e-textbooks when they are available
  • Students will be scheduled for two or three classes depending on student needs
  • Communicate with the other teachers of your son/daughter on a regular basis
  • Communicate with parents on a regular basis regarding progress

We tailor our program to the needs of individual students who are enrolled in the GEAR Program. Class placement decisions will be based on input from parents, teachers, previous testing, current testing, and grades. Final placement decisions will be made by Student Services and the Campus Principal.

Gilbert Christian Schools

1040 S. Gilbert Road Ste. 200
Gilbert, AZ 85296
480.809.6690

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