3^rd Grade

Inquiry and Investigation

Third-grade students probe more deeply into questions and information. They compare and contrast information and as well as draw suggestions from text. They are encouraged to reflect on the act of thinking and learning itself and to determine the new ways of thinking that will help in the future.

Learning to Read

Third-grade students conquer words that are more complex and use a range of strategies to understand unfamiliar words and phrases. They use standard grammar and build clear sentences. This is a key year for building reading skills and gaining fluency.

Writing

Third-grade students’ use of descriptive language is growing. Grammar, usage, mechanics, and spelling skills are introduced, practiced and reviewed in the context of writing. More time is spent on planning, rewriting, and editing their work. The students practice writing in cursive and improving their keyboarding skills.

Communication

Third-grade students’ speaking skills are expanding and they continue progress in explaining personal ideas, and responding to others’ comments. They further examine the presenters’ manner of speaking and the way they present their information.

Reading for Enjoyment and Enrichment

Third-grade students deepen their knowledge of literary texts. They compare, contrast, and use other investigative techniques to analyze their reading. Third graders are challenged to look at the world from others’ points of view.

Reading for Information

Third-grade students learn to see books as sources of information as well as fun. They deepen their knowledge of non-fiction texts. They begin to move beyond “reading to read” to “reading to learn.” Third graders learn to summarize and make predictions from the text.

4^th Grade

Inquiry and Investigation

Fourth-grade students are pushed to think, analyze and learn in more sophisticated and structured ways. Fourth graders are encouraged to be more independent in their learning, depending less on the teacher‘s guidance. They will research, plan, and revise their work more frequently this year and do it more independently.

Learning to Read

Fourth-grade students focus now on reading to learn. They spend less time fi guring out words and more time gaining an understanding of what is read as they use various reading strategies. Fourth-graders grammar and punctuation knowledge is growing.

Writing

Fourth-grade students spend time working on more complex writings than in previous grades. They write essays, reports, and opinion papers. They use more resource tools and better understand the concept of “audience” and of purpose when writing.

Communication

Fourth-grade students’ speaking and listening skills continue to develop. They listen to others, explain personal ideas, and respond to others’ comments. They examine the manner in which presenters give their information and whether that information is sufficient.

Reading for Enjoyment and Enrichment

Fourth-grade students read a greater variety of texts, among them: fictional stories, magazines, and non-fiction books. At this age, students are better able to understand concepts and the perspectives of others. Fourth graders are encouraged to think about the messages in a text, how different texts compare and how a message relates to their own lives.

Reading for Information

Fourth-grade students use a wider range of research materials and take on a larger variety of topics. Students are taught to think deeply about and make connections to what they read and learn in all their subjects.

5^th Grade

Inquiry and Investigation

Fifth-grade students are expected to analyze more deeply what they learn, read and investigate. At this level, students form ideas from their research and must support those ideas with evidence and details. Fifth graders use more materials to do research on a broader array of topics.

Learning to Read

Fifth-grade students read a wide variety of increasingly challenging texts, both fiction and non-fiction. The emphasis is now on understanding what is read. Fifth graders mastery of grammar and punctuation is growing.

Writing

Fifth-grade students spend a lot of time writing. They write essays, reports, and opinion papers that are several paragraphs long. They use more varied resource tools and are developing a writing style.

Communication

Fifth-grade students more clearly express their ideas and opinions in discussions and reports. They look more closely at presentations to analyze styles and content.

Reading for Enjoyment and Enrichment

Fifth-grade students are better able to offer detailed analyses of characters and plots of books. They read a great deal more and with increasingly complex texts. Fifth graders think more analytically even about fictional stories and books.

Reading for Information

Fifth-grade students research and write reports several pages in length. Students develop their ability to gather and organize information then make conclusions and predictions from the text.

Fort Mill School District

2233 Deerfield Drive, Fort Mill, SC 29715