Upper Elementary Experience

grades 3 through 5

Third through fifth grade students assume greater responsibility for their learning and are challenged to further extend their foundational skills while finding their personal voice and style. 

As students transfer from learning to read to reading to learn, classroom libraries are rich sources of exploration and excitement. Novel studies and exploration of high-quality book series are matched with feature authors and a deep exploration of poetry. A particular focus on nonfiction texts pushes students to explore and question the scientific and historic world around them. 

Personal voice is a key component to upper elementary students’ development. Through research with digital and print sources, students explore the power of persuasion with opinion writing pieces. Healthy discourse and debate are fostered as students rely on evidence and facts to defend oral statements made, engaging in lively, productive classroom discussions. 

A daily intervention period allows for students to strengthen and extend their skills in specific ELA and math concepts. This prepares students to be sound mathematicians as they master multiplication/division/ fraction concepts as well vocabulary skills and comprehension strategies necessary for success.