RELIGION

In the Sadlier We Believe textbook, the students learn about the church and what we believe as Catholics. They deepen their understanding of the Mass and the sacraments in their lives. The children focus on the importance of prayer in their lives. They learn about the saints, the liturgical calendar, and special feast days and holy days in the church.

READING

Instruction in the McGraw-Hill Reading program is directed toward the development of those basic skills and strategies related to reading comprehension, vocabulary building, phonics decoding, and the use of dictionary and reference materials. The children are challenged with the Accelerated Reading computerized reading program.

ENGLISH

The McGraw-Hill English curriculum provides needed practice and reinforcement of grammar and punctuation skills. The curriculum focuses on basic grammar and parts of speech such as nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, and adverbs. Emphasis is also placed on learning about subjects and predicates and the four kinds of sentences: statements, questions, commands, and exclamations. Thinking and writing skills are used on a daily basis. Grammar skills are reinforced and students are given opportunities to develop their writing skills in other areas of the curriculum.

HANDWRITING

Cursive handwriting is introduced in the third grade and reinforced in fourth grade. Five main keys to legibility are taught and reviewed throughout the Zaner-Bloser program: letter formation, slant, spacing, alignment and proportion, and line quality. They remind students that handwriting instruction strives to achieve fluent, legible handwriting.

SPELLING

Spelling words are introduced each week in the Everyday Spelling consumable textbook. The words are taught in meaningful contexts. Spelling strategies are developed and tips are given for frequently misspelled words. Each week the students are further challenged by integrating the vocabulary words from the basal reading stories into the spelling curriculum.

SOCIAL STUDIES/AMERICAN HISTORY

Maps, globes, and charts are used to understand more about communities of yesterday and today in the Harcourt Horizons textbook. Students learn about the use of natural resources in both rural and urban communities. The duties and responsibilities of citizenship are introduced. The students learn about many American symbols, landmarks, and national holidays. Local, state, and national governments are studied as well as the services that these governments provide.

SCIENCE

Life, Physical, and Earth Science concepts are extended. An overview of the six body systems is presented.

MATH

All previously taught skills in the McGraw-Hill Mathematics program are further developed. Multiplication and division concepts and basic facts are introduced. Estimation skills are applied to addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problem solving. Students learn to multiply up to 4-digit numbers by 1-digit numbers. Students gain proficiency in dividing up to 3-digit dividends by 1-digit divisors. Comparing and ordering decimals is also introduced.