How we teach
Every subject at St. Therese starts from the same conviction: each child has God-given potential, and a strong, coherent curriculum is how we help them reach it. Here is what your child will learn, subject by subject.
Reading and language arts
Through Believe and Read, an initiative sponsored by the Catholic Schools Center of Excellence, literacy coaches from Groves Academy work with our K-3 teachers using a proven, phonics-based methodology built on 50 years of research. Teachers deliver a daily 30-minute phonics lesson, receive weekly coaching check-ins and track student progress through routine assessments. Kindergarten through 5th grade classrooms also use the Houghton Mifflin Journeys program for literature, informational texts, foundational skills, and speaking, listening and writing, with flexible guided-reading groups that let students work at their own reading level.
In middle school, our English Language Arts curriculum integrates reading, writing, vocabulary, grammar and public speaking. Students sharpen critical thinking while exploring, analyzing, evaluating and creating across the curriculum, becoming competent, thoughtful communicators.
Mathematics
Math Expressions is a proven Pre-K through 6th curriculum that helps children make sense of math by exploring, discussing, and demonstrating their understanding of key concepts. In busy, active lessons, students learn how to look deeper and choose their own path to the answers – skills that will take them far beyond the math classroom. Every lesson integrates mathematical processes and practices students use authentic examples to make sense of mathematics.
Science and STEM
We encourage students to be curious about the world God created, emphasizing hands-on experience: from tapping maple trees in our DNR-certified woods to running controlled experiments in our science lab. Grades K-5 follow the Core Knowledge Sequence of science standards, revisiting topics like the human body, weather, electricity, astronomy, ecology and cells with greater depth each year, and use STEMScopes to explore the engineering design process. K-3 students visit the science classroom twice a week and grades 4-5 three times a week. Middle schoolers have science every day: physical science in 6th grade, life science in 7th and earth science in 8th.
Religion
Faith is not one class among many here; it is the air the school breathes. Students have religion instruction across all grades, attend Mass weekly and pray daily. Our Faith Formation page tells the fuller story.
Spanish
We teach Spanish beginning in preschool. Students receive instruction twice a week, 30 minutes per session in grades K-5 and 45 minutes in grades 6-8, taught primarily in Spanish with a focus on both language development and cultural awareness. Many of our graduates place into intermediate or honors Spanish in high school.
Art, music and physical education
From preschool to 8th grade, students have art classes with age-appropriate concepts, integrating art history and building the confidence that comes from creative work. Music is part of the curriculum at every grade, with Christmas and spring performances, and band is offered in grades 4-8. Physical education uses our gym and outdoor fields to build healthy habits, teach teamwork and meet state health standards, and our middle schoolers join other west metro Catholic schools each year for a hands-on health fair.
Academic Enrichment Program: Our Academic Enrichment Program is designed to provide challenging, thought provoking, and diverse learning opportunities for our students. The program works on many different levels including pull out groups, classroom differentiation challenge packets, and school wide activities available to all. The goal of academic enrichment is to enhance and seek deeper understanding of skills and content learning during classroom lessons and initiate opportunities to explore subjects and areas beyond their primary curriculum.
Technology
Computer coding is introduced to all students through resources like Code.org and hands-on tools like Finch robots, and technology is integrated into instruction across subjects.
Technology with Purpose: At St. Therese, technology is a tool, not the focus. We use it intentionally and age appropriately when it enhances learning, while continuing to prioritize books, handwriting, hands on experiences, discussion and collaboration.
Personal devices, including cell phones and smartwatches, are not permitted for student use during the school day. School technology is managed, filtered and monitored to provide a safe, focused learning environment.
Our goal is to teach students not only how to use technology, but when to use it and when to put it away.
How we monitor progress
Students take the NWEA-MAP assessment each fall and spring to determine instructional levels and measure year-over-year growth in math and reading, and STAR assessments in reading and math every six weeks to monitor progress between those points.
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