Special Programs
Our Lady of Good Counsel School Community has been blessed and graced with the charisms of “compassion,” “faith,” and the “family spirit.” Our Lady of Good Counsel School is a compassionate, faith-filled family.
Our school’s philosophy is based on the Gospel principles of message, worship, community, and service. Worship is an integral part of the philosophy which enriches and enhances the lives of all at our school. Growing in faith by listening to God’s word and worshipping as a school community through the school Masses, rosary and prayer services, and other liturgical services are some of the ways we encourage our children and staff to grow as a faith community. We also focus on class service projects throughout the school year. Aiding our fellow students, school, church, and other communities is another important Gospel principle that we encourage in our students.
Reading Plus Program
Lexia Reading Core5® supports educators in providing differentiated literacy instruction for students of all abilities in grades pre-K–5. Lexia’s research-proven program provides explicit, systematic, personalized learning in the six areas of reading instruction, targeting skill gaps as they emerge, and providing teachers with the data and student-specific resources they need for individual or small-group instruction.
Shurley Method
The unique features of Shurley Method give students the concrete steps necessary to relate the following:
- a definition to a concept
- a concept to a skill practice
- a skill practice to writing
- writing to effective speaking
Phonics
Teachers in the primary level use the Reading Horizons program. The Reading Horizons method is an explicit and multi-sensory approach to enrich the school's reading program. The multisensory practices help activate several areas of the brain by including visual, auditory, and kinesthetic cues that allow students to make the connections needed for meaningful interactions with text. It's a beneficial program for early readers of grades K-3, and it strongly supports the growth in readers of all ages.
Singapore Math
The goal is for children to perform well because they understand the material on a deeper level; they are not just learning it for a test. The Singapore Math program:
- Relies heavily on visualization. Singapore introduces a middle step between the concrete and abstract called the pictorial approach.
- Believes the means to mastery is problem solving.
- Encourages students to learn how to use model drawing to solve those word problems that many of us remember fondly from elementary school. Instead of trying to picture the problem in their heads, then writing out the equation to solve it.