Grade Overviews

The Kindergarten curriculum draws on varied programs to present a healthy, happy, and exciting environment for a child's first school experience.

Using a thematic approach, children explore a topic with stories and songs, art activities, problem solving and hands-on learning.

Kindergartners will enjoy meeting the bright, lovable characters from the Land of the Letter People who will introduce them to letter symbols and sounds. In conjunction with each letter person, formal handwriting will be taught through the Zaner-Bloser program. This handwriting program will carry them all through Fuller School.

Relying heavily upon manipulatives, kindergartners use concrete experiences to help formulate early math concepts using the program Every Day Math, The Every Day Math program focuses on number recognition, shapes, patterning, graphing, telling time, identifying coins, adding and subtracting. Zero the Hero comes to visit every 10 days. He always brings a counting story and activity.

Children use chants, songs and poems to enhance the literacy program, Houghton Mifflin, as well as charts, big books and class-generated books. Sight words, or "popcorn words", are introduces weekly. The Collins Writing Program introduces them to writing thoughts on paper at this early age. Kinder-spelling is emphasized. This program continues as they move through the grades.

To keep parents informed, a newsletter goes out every week. Parents are encouraged to stay involved with their Kindergartner's Fuller School experience! Home/school communication folders are used daily. Donations of many items (paper goods, snack, etc.) and volunteering are ways to stay involved and are always needed at this grade level. Detailed report cards are given each trimester. Conference are scheduled around each report card trimester break.

During the school year there are many opportunities for family involvement. The Kindergarten Holiday Show is in December, parties/celebrations through the school year and Kindergarten Celebration, which is in June. Fuller School also has events, which are school wide, and lots of fun for all. Watch the fliers and information that comes home. The backpack is always full of the current events at school. One important note is the Fuller Funesta, which is usually in June. This is an event that Kindergartners cannot participate in without individual adult supervision because of the size of the event. Mark your calendars early so that it's not missed.

FIRST GRADE

The use of manipulatives is an important part of the math program, which includes addition and subtraction facts to 18, measurement, patterning, graphing, money, time, problem solving and place value.

Developing positive social skills and self esteem are emphasized daily during all activities both in and our of the classroom.

Parent/teacher conferences are scheduled at least two times a year ti discuss the child's progress.

SECOND GRADE

In second grade important language arts skills such as reading comprehension, word attack, and critical thinking are stressed. Time is spent on writing with increased emphasis on spelling, composition, and grammar.

In math, the students will build on their knowledge of math basics using the Everyday Mathematics program. Students will work on place value, money, time, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, geometry, fractions, measurement and decimals. Concepts are introduced and revisited continuously throughout the year.

Science, social studies, and health are integrated with other areas of the curriculum. Common topics include map and globe skills, Ancient Egypt, Africa and it's geography, plants, geology, and simple machines.

Parent/teacher conferences are scheduled two times a year, November and March, to discuss your child's progress. End of the year conferences are optional and may be requested by the parent or teacher. We expect children to be respectful, polite, responsible and safe at all times. WE accomplish this goal through our daily interaction and the establishment of a sense of community within our classrooms and school.

THIRD GRADE

Third-graders continue to receive intensive reading instruction, with the emphasis shifting from word attack skills to comprehension. A thematic literature based program is used to teach language arts. Cursive writing is introduced as well. Written language is a daily experience focusing on grammar, usage, and creativity.
Students continue to study mathematics and explore numbers as well as develop concepts of addition and subtraction with regrouping. A highlight of the year is the introduction of multiplication. Extensive work on problem solving and strategies, mental math, and calculator use takes place.

Our focus for social studies theme is communities: Native Americans, the Pilgrims of Plimoth, and Keene, New Hampshire are favorites of the students.

In science we study animals, the solar system, electricity and magnets, health safety, nutrition, and the environment.

The reporting system is divided into trimesters with parent conferences held the first and second trimesters

FOURTH GRADE

Fourth grade students continue to develop their reading skills but spend increasing amounts of time developing their oral and written communication skills using the Collins Writing Program. Study skills, reference skills, and cursive writing are also emphasized. Many math skills, including math facts, multiplication, division, area, perimeter, volume and working with data are taught with an emphasis on problem solving and increasing reasoning skills using the newly adopted Everyday Math Program.

Land and water, the human body and nutrition, and heat-light-sound energy are studied in science and health. In social studies we do a year long unit on New Hampshire history, An environment unit will be taught by the Harris Center.

FIFTH GRADE

Fifth graders develop their oral and written reading skills using the Hougthon Mifflin Reading program and Collins Writing. Language Arts include Daily Oral Language, English and cursive writing. math instruction follows the Everyday Mathematics program which is focused on real life problem solving. Science instruction topics are weather, ecosystems and matter. These units are taught by hands on instruction.

Social Studies topics include the Constitution and the 3 branches of government, States and Capitals, US Regions, and Government and Geography of Latin America and Canada. The introduction to a second language provides half a year French and Spanish. Health instruction includes nutrition, first aid, drugs, human growth and development and the central nervous system. Organizational skills include the use of a school provided daily planner.

Report cards are issued three times a year with parent conferences being held at the end of the first trimester, Optional conferences are available at the end of the second trimester or any time during the school year.