Elementary Grades (Third to Fifith Grade)

Students in third through fifth grade, while remaining within self-contained homerooms, begin to receive instruction in core subjects from subject-specific teachers within the same grade level.

Third and Fourth Grade
In addition to the Imagine It! and Accelerated Reader programs, students in third and fourth grade receive instruction from a systematic Language Arts series to further develop their skills in writing, grammar, and spelling. Independent as well as whole-class novel studies augment Reading instruction as well.   Students receive more in-depth development of writing skills and begin to learn the rudiments of note-taking skills through the "Structure and Style" writing program (Institute for Excellence in Writing).  Time devoted to developing knowledge and skills in Math, Science and Social Studies continue to increase.  Systematic keyboarding lessons begin in the Third Grade in the weekly Technology classes in order to prepare students for the proficient use of various software programs in the upper elementary grades and middle school.

Fifth Grade
Fifith grade students receive immediate preparation for their entrance into middle school.  Their lessons in Reading and Language Arts instruction are supplemented by three to four units of novel study, as well as a Vocabulary series.  Writing projects for various purposes and across the currciulum continue to be developed through the "Structure and Style" writing program (Institute for Excellence in Writing).  Math instruction is enriched by the use of the "Hands On Equation" program which exposes our students to algebraic skills.  Students have increasing opportunities to engage in research and writing projects aimed at fostering skills in organization and gathering and presenting information. Students begin to be introduced to various study skills which will prepare them for greater independence in the middle school.