Upper Elementary Program

(Grades 3 to 5)

Mission

Our mission is to cultivate qualities of character, citizenship, and academic curiosity in a safe, secure, and loving environment, providing personal and engaging educational opportunities in academics and the visual and performing arts. For upper elementary students, we also ensure that students graduate from fifth grade prepared for very successful social and academic middle school experiences.

Why we’re special

• Safe, secure, challenging
• 1:16 teacher/student ratio
• Accelerated curriculum
• Saxon Math curriculum
• Accelerated math program
• Harcourt Language Program w/emphasis on Phonics, Reading, Comprehension, Listening, Writing, and Grammar
• Science Labs
• Harcourt Social Studies curriculum
• Nystrom Atlas/Geography curriculum
• Marvelous Music which includes such things as: tone chimes, recorders,
  voice, and full scale productions
• Art adventures like the Art Car Project, Houston Livestock Show Art Competition
  and Art History
• P.E./Health and sports — including basketball, flag football, soccer, volleyball, and Presidential Fitness
• Library-Accelerated Reader, Research
• Learning Tech Computer Program
• Academic Competitions
• ACE G/T Program for 3rd–5th graders
• British Curriculum equivalent

Curriculum

• Language — The Language Arts program pulls from a vast array of sources to ensure every child's success in handwriting, spelling, grammar, reading and comprehension, as well as writing, listening, and speaking. These sources include:
  • Handwriting — Handwriting Program for Cursive
  • Spelling — Everyday Spelling - workbook
  • Grammar — Shurley Grammar Method & Kim Marshall Grammar
  • Reading — Harcourt books and workbook, literature enrichment using various novels
  • Comprehension — Harcourt Reading Series
  • Writing — Includes: Story Starters, Reading Writing, creative writing, various forms of paragraph writing, Scholastic Guides: “Putting it in Writing,” journal writing, letter writing, and book reports
• Math — Saxon Math is a comprehensive math program that offers opportunities for on-level and advanced students in the upper elementary. The 6/5 and 5/4 textbooks are set up to offer incremental development and continual review. Concepts are developed over time and practiced frequently. Student success is the focus.
• The daily routine includes:
  • A Warm UP, Facts Practice, Mental Math Activity, and Problem Solving Activity
  • Presentation of the New Concept
  • The Lesson Practice (new concept)
  • The Mixed Practice (review and new concept)
  • Investigations
  • Cumulative Assessments
• In Saxon Math, practice and assessment are linked closely with the instruction of increments, allowing for concentration and immediate practice. Assessments are oral and focus on one or two concepts. Daily Meetings and Math Center activities allow students to engage in continual review and concept introduction. “Saxon Math’s unique approach to math instruction ensures that students not only gain, but also retain essential math skill.” Research studies show that students who receive incremental instruction, continual practice, and cumulative assessment show greater skill acquisition and achievement.*
• The third grade program includes Daily Meeting Boards, incremental instruction, daily fact practice, daily homework and cumulative assessments. The continual practice of previously presented concepts strengthens student’s grasp and retention of material.
• Grades 3-5 attend Accelerated Math computer classes and the Accelerated Math Libraries are graded and reinforce the math instruction in the classroom. An individualized approach offers additional practice and supports mastery of concepts. Students prepare for standard testing formats as well as develop testing strategies.
• Science — Our objective in Science is to ensure that all students acquire knowledge in the areas of Life Science, Physical Science, Earth Science, and Environmental Topics. Our main curriculum is based on AIMS—Activities Integrating Math & Science.
• Social Studies — Social Studies classes use Harcourt textbook and activity books that cover various topics, including United States History, communities, and landforms. Current Events activities are an important part of our Social Studies curriculum. Our 4th graders explore our states’ history using “The Story of Texas” textbook. Annual Social Studies Fair highlights students’ gifts, talents, and interests.
• Enrichment — Yorkshire Academy strongly believes in the benefits of enrichment classes, including music, art, Spanish, computer, P.E. and library. Our goal is to educate the whole child and exercise both sides of the brain. All elementary students attend each of these classes twice per week, with the exception of P.E. which they attend four times per week.

* Source: Summaries of these findings and studies are reported in a document titled Scientific Research Base for Saxon Math K-12.