Curriculum
English Language Arts
ELA includes reading, writing, spelling and grammar.
Our reading instruction follows the Reader's Workshop model. We use the Lucy Calkin's units of study to provide reading instruction through focus lessons on theme, tone, mood, author's purpose/craft, debatable ideas, character traits, and story elements. The teacher models and teaches the skills and strategies that proficient readers use. Students are taught that these strategies can be applied to many types of reading. Our units of study include fiction literature and informational text. Students engage in mini-lessons, small group instruction, conferring and independent reading. Students learn to read fiction and non fiction text differently. Students also learn to read intensely, read closely, and read with purpose to make meaningful connections with the text. Students engage in sustained independent reading with their "just right book", and take detailed notes to record their observations and thinking as they deepen their understanding of the text. Students learn the 5 Finger Rule to select a "just right book" at their reading level. Choose a book, turn to the middle of a book and read one full page of text top to bottom. Hold up one finger for each word you cannot read. If you are holding up one finger or no fingers, put the book away. It is too easy. If you are holding up 2 or 3 fingers this is a "just right book". If you are holding up 4 fingers this book may be more challenging, but can be considered a "just right book". If you are holding up 5 or more fingers, put the book away for a later time.
Writing instruction focuses on the six traits. Mini lesson instruction is provided in the following areas: word choice, "dead" words, organization, sentence fluency, transition words, voice, ideas and content, sensory imagery, conventions (capital letters and punctuation), revision and editing. Students in fourth and fifth grade write personal narratives, opinion/persuasive writing, informative writing, as well as poetry.
Mathematics
We use the Envision Math curriculum. This curriculum is aligned to the Common Core State Standards. Students complete computations, problem solve, apply learned strategies to solve math problems, and explain their thinking in writing to develop math fluency and a deeper understanding of math concepts. The Envision math program provides visual models to support visual learning, deepening student's understanding of math topics.
The program teaches the Common Core State Standards for mathematics and is organized around the Common Core Domains so teaching is highly focused and coherent.
Social Studies
Grade 4- Regions of our Country
Map Skills
Regions of the United States
Grade 5- America's Past
Map Skills
Native American Cultures
European Explorers
Early English Settlements
Thirteen Colonies
Slavery
Colonial Williamsburg
American Revolution
Declaration of Independence
The Constitution
Science ***New Pearson Elevate Science program as of September 2019
Grade 4 Topics
Energy and Motion
Human Uses of Energy
Waves and Formation
Earth's Features
Earth's Natural Hazards
The History of Planet Earth
Structures and Functions
Human Body Systems
Grade 5 Topics
Properties of Matter
Changes in Matter
Earth's Systems
Earth's Water
Human Impacts on Earth's Systems
Solar System
Patterns in Space
Energy and Food