Our new Reading Workshop program in grades 1-3 encourages students to choose and read books with greater independence as they practice the skills used by expert readers. As students mature, the focus moves from decoding and fluency to analysis of literary themes and elements of fiction. Students also read a range of non-fiction, including informational texts. In 5th grade, all students participate in the Battle of the Books competition, which culminates in the final weeks of the year.

Writing: Student focus on writing in increasing detail and at greater length from year to year. Assignments include creative, informative, persuasive, argumentative and expository writing. Our writing workshop program creates opportunities for students to draft, edit their work with peers and teachers, redraft and publish their writing. We teach cursive in 3rd grade, as well as keyboarding skills. Spelling, vocabulary and grammar are taught throughout.