Academic Excellence

English
Combining literature, composition, spelling, and grammar, English class is built around the themes of transition and culture. Literature focuses on elements of a novel, poetry and short stories. Children read classics like The Phantom
Tollbooth and The Miracle Worker, stories that support instruction in other classes.

Teachers use Elements of Language to reinforce grammatical concepts and to teach parts of speech, phrases and clauses, complements, and sentence diagramming. Specific forms of writing, such as expository, narrative, descriptive, persuasive, and creative are explored further. Spelling emphasizes phonetic awareness as well as vocabulary building.

Mathematics
Children are grouped by ability and learn about operations with whole numbers, fractions and decimals, using percents, understanding ratios and proportions, probability and statistics, basic geometry, and introductory Pre-Algebra. Math at this level also includes opportunities for students to apply skills they've learned to create special projects, such as a math board game with decimal calculations and a toothpick bridge. These fun, dynamic activities help bring measurement and geometry to life through real-world applications of math concepts.

Geography
Through the study of geography, the students will become familiar with the regions of Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Students learn to identify the similarities and differences between the people and countries within these regions through an in-depth comparative study of at least two countries from each region. Students learn advanced map skills and understand how the five themes of geography are linked to each component of present day culture and daily-life. Resources include Geography: The World and Its People, movies, first-person narratives, Internet research, and teacher-generated materials.

Science
Children learn to apply the scientific method to a variety of questions. They are exposed to the three areas of science they will explore more deeply in later grades; Life Science (human physiology and plants), Earth Science (weather), and Physical Science (light, sound, and matter). This is accomplished through reading, discussion, and weekly scientific investigations. In addition, children incorporate technology into scientific research and data organization and analysis.