• Skip to main content
stf-logo-school-640-142
  • Parish
  • School
  • Mass Times
  • Giving
Search
Close
×
  • Parish Home
  • About St. Francis Parish
    • Mass & Confession Schedules
    • St. Francis Parish Center
    • Parish Staff
    • Parish Leadership Councils
  • Parish News & Updates
    • Parish Bulletins
    • Parish Newsletters
  • Events & Calendar
    • Parish Calendar
    • Parish Center Calendar
    • Ministry Schedules
  • Sacraments
    • Baptism
    • Reconciliation
    • Confirmation
    • First Holy Communion
    • Matrimony
    • Holy Orders
    • Anointing of the Sick
  • Ministries & Outreach
    • Directory of Ministires
    • Stewardship
    • Community Assistance & Food Pantry
    • Bible Study Groups
    • Become Catholic (RCIA)
    • Ignite Youth Group
    • Parish School of Religion (PSR)
    • Funeral Info
  • Connect
    • Become A Parishioner
    • Giving
    • FORMED
    • Contact Parish
  • School Home
  • About St. Francis School
    • Principal’s Welcome Letter
    • Mission, Vision & History
    • Faculty & Staff
    • Preschool
    • Parent Teacher Organization
    • Solanus Saints
    • School Board
    • Contact Us
  • Academics
    • Curriculum
    • Religious Education
    • Technology
    • STEM Lab
    • Music & Art
    • Library
  • Enrollment
    • Admissions
    • Tuition & Fees
    • Financial Assistance & Scholarship Opportunities
    • FACTS Tuition Payment Plan
  • Extracurriculars
    • Athletics
    • Organizations, Clubs & Activities
    • Gym Schedule
  • Current Families
    • Lunch & Breakfast Menus
    • Duty Calendar
    • Academic Calendar
    • Extended Care
    • FACTS Portal & TMP Access
    • Downloads & Forms
  • School News & Updates
  • School Home
  • About Us
    • Principal’s Welcome Letter
    • Mission, Vision & History
    • Faculty & Staff
    • Preschool
    • Parent Teacher Organization
    • Solanus Saints
    • School Board
    • Contact Us
  • Academics
    • Curriculum
    • Religious Education
    • Technology
    • STEM Lab
    • Music & Art
    • Library
  • Enrollment
    • Admissions
    • Tuition & Fees
    • Financial Assistance & Scholarship Opportunities
    • FACTS Tuition Payment Plan
    • Request More Info
  • Extracurriculars
    • Athletics
    • Organizations, Clubs & Activities
    • Gym Schedule
  • Current Families
    • Lunch & Breakfast Menus
    • Duty Calendar
    • Academic Calendar
    • Extended Care
    • FACTS Family Portal & TMP Access
    • Downloads & Forms
  • School News & Updates

Curriculum

Academic preparation at St. Francis Solanus School emphasizes education of the whole child. We strive to deliver the quality of education that inspires all families to send their children to our school.

Curriculum & Instruction

To achieve our high academic standards, our curriculum includes instruction in the following subjects:

  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Reading
  • Language Arts
  • Religion

Classroom instruction is designed to engage and motivate all students, addressing the diverse needs and capabilities of each student, and accommodating students with special needs as fully as possible.

We believe curriculum and instruction for 21st century learning must provide students with the knowledge, understanding, and skills to become creative, reflective, critical, and moral evaluators, problem solvers, decision makers, and socially responsible global citizens.

st-francis-solanus-school-curriculum

Our Teachers

Our excellent teaching staff is dedicated to helping each child live up to their unique potential and God-given talents and abilities. All of our teachers are certified by the State of Illinois and participate in regular professional development opportunities. Teaching experience ranges from 1 year to 35+ years in the classroom. Teacher aides offer additional support in our Kindergarten classrooms.

  • Small class sizes allow our teachers to provide more individualized attention.
  • Students visit the school library on a weekly basis to explore the more than 10,000 new and classic books.
  • Physical education and weekly art and music classes enhance the basic academic curriculum.
  • Qualified students receive Title 1 Reading and Math services, Reading Recovery, and in-school tutoring.
st-francis-curriculum-mapping

Curriculum Mapping

Curriculum Mapping benefits all of the QCES students, teachers, and parents. In 2018, the teachers from Blessed Sacrament, St. Dominic, St. Francis and St. Peter School began working together on curriculum mapping.  The teachers collaborate in grade level teams sharing what is currently being taught and comparing to state and national standards.  They create QCES maps with common standards, essential questions, content, and skills.  In addition, each school has expanded maps containing specific technology, assessment and resources.

QCES Curricculum Mapping Introduction Expand

In 2018, the teachers from Blessed Sacrament, St. Dominic, St. Francis and St. Peter School began working together on curriculum mapping.  The teachers collaborate in grade level teams sharing what is currently being taught and comparing to state and national standards.  They create QCES maps with common standards, essential questions, content, and skills.  In addition, each school has expanded maps containing specific technology, assessment and resources.

Curriculum Mapping benefits all of the QCES students, teachers, and parents.  Below are just a few of the positive ways it impacts the school community.

Horizontal Alignment – teachers at each grade level collaborate to ensure they are teaching the same content and skills.

Vertical Alignment – teachers preschool through 8th grade collaborate to have a fluid curriculum from one grade to another. Teachers review and revise all maps looking for gaps and redundancies.

Cross Disciplinary – academic, physical education, music, and technology teachers at each grade collaborate on shared content and skills.

Meeting Standards – teachers compare what they are teaching to the Illinois State Standards incorporating the National Common Core, Next Generation Science Standards, and National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies to make sure what they are teaching is age appropriate and aligned with national and state expectations.

Curriculum Maps contain standards, essential questions, content, skills, assessment, resources, and technology.

Standards

  • Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards
  • Illinois State Standards incorporating the National Common Core
  • Next Generation Science Standards
  • National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies

Essential Questions

  • Overarching questions that provide focus for the unit and are aligned to the big ideas, concepts, or themes.
  • Guide instruction.
  • Focus on “why is this important”.
  • Encourage higher level thinking.
  • Help students make connections beyond content being studied.
  • Ex: How do natural hazards impact humans?

Content

  • Subject matter key concepts, targeted facts, and core content.
  • Content needed to teach so students can respond to essential question.
  • Ex: Natural Hazards

Skills

  • What students need to know or be able to do in order to demonstrate mastery or understanding of the content.
  • Ex: Discuss the causes and effects of natural hazards

Assessment

  • Summative products and performances that are demonstrations of learning and are observable evidence of competence.
  • Focus on learning of essential questions.
  • Ex: Whole group discussion and Natural Hazard Flipbook

Resources

  • All major materials used.
  • Ex: Delta Science Kit (2011)

Technology

  • Technology equipment and resources incorporated into unit.
  • Ex: iPads, Computer, Elmo, SMART Board, YouTube

 

Curriculum Maps by Grade
The maps are available to download in PDF format. They may be viewed with Preview (on a Mac) or with Adobe Reader (any platform).

QCES Science Curriculum Maps Expand

QCES Science Content PreK3-8th

PreK 3 Science Map St. F

PreK 4 Science Map St. F

K Science Map St. F

1st Science Map St. F

2nd Science Map St. F

3rd Science Map St. F

4th Science Map St. F

5th Science Map St. F

6th Science Map St. F

7th Science Map St. F

8th Science Map St. F

  • Academics
  • Curriculum
  • Religious Education
  • Technology
  • STEM Lab
  • Music & Art
  • Library
stf-footer-logo-440
  • Parish
  • School
  • Mass Times
  • Giving

Parish Office

1721 College Avenue
Quincy, IL 62301

(217) 222-2898

Parish Facebook

Parish Instagram

Download Parish App

School Office

1720 College Avenue
Quincy, IL 62301

(217) 222-4077

School Facebook

© 2020 St. Francis Solanus - Quincy, IL. All Rights Reserved.  |  Website by Visule Web Media