3rd/4th Grade Core

This is a four hour per week core course meeting 2 hours on Tues. and 2 hours on Thurs. Tuition is $640/semester plus a $10 material fee/semester. 

This amount will be split into five payments as follows for the second semester: 

• $50 deposit (non-refundable, non-transferable) is due by Jan 9th for current Ethos families and Jan. 16th for new Ethos families. This deposit guarantees your student's spot in the class.  
• $112.50 due first week of February (installment #1 less deposit)
• $162.50 due first week of March
• $162.50 due first week of April
• $162.50 due first week of May

Payments can be made using Venmo or a personal check.

WELCOME TO THE 3/4 CORE CLASS!

This course is designed to give your child a strong foundation in the skills and concepts expected from 3rd and 4th graders. This is a year-long program from 9AM to 11:05AM each Tuesday and Thursday. When you enroll your child in this class, they will automatically be enrolled for the entire class time on BOTH days, BOTH semesters. 

Learning will take place in a safe, exciting and interactive environment where students will collaborate and encourage one another. They will be challenged to accept and appreciate mistakes as valuable learning opportunities, speak in front of others, become attentive and encouraging audience members and participate in rich discussions where their curiosities and questions can be safely explored. We will cross multiple curricular areas through videos, readings, discussions, projects, presentations, etc. and will support any other avenues and detours these amazing little minds decide to take. 

My goal is to be a support and an encouragement to you as you establish an excellent learning foundation for your child and to provide them with a fun, engaging learning experience that will motivate them toward becoming a life-long learner. I hope you decide to join me on this amazing journey!

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT MATH: 

This year the core classes are 2 hours each day and will not cover mathematics. In order to ensure that every student is working at their appropriate level, we will be offering mathematics as a separate class. I will be teaching Singapore Math 2/3 (covering books 2 & 3 for grades 2-4) as well as Singapore Math 4/5 (covering books 4 & 5 for grades 4 and up). As we break down and simplify the concepts so they make sense, they will realize that math is nothing to fear! No more feeling timid or embarrassed about math. It’s like learning to walk… we’ve all mastered it, but did so at our own pace – and THAT’S HOW IT SHOULD BE! Please be sure to register for the class that best meets the current needs and skills of your child. 

HOMEWORK:

Weekly homework will be assigned. On average, you should allow for approximately 2 hours for these core subjects (plus additional time for math) on each homeschool day (M, W, F). Some students may require more time, others less. I do not collect or grade homework; however, in order for your student to get the most out of our time together, it is important that it be completed and brought to class for our discussions and activities.  

CLASSROOM SUPPLIES:

• 5 Composition notebooks; 1 for each of the following subjects; Bible, Reading, Writing, Science and Social Studies
• Mechanical pencils w/ extra lead (please no pencil sharpeners in classroom)
• Fine Tip Dry Erase Markers (multi-pack)
• Colored pencils (markers bleed through the pages)
• Thesaurus 
• Tape
• Scissors
• Sports-top water bottle (to prevent spills)
• Additional supplies worth having: supply box, tissue, and hand sanitizer

REQUIRED CURRICULUM:

**Hover over the book titles to access the link.

LANGAUAGE ARTS:

Reading levels will vary greatly in this class. In order to ensure each student is progressing at a healthy rate without struggling or stagnating, we will have 3 different reading groups. From this first section, you will choose the book that best matches your child’s abilities. 

 1.      Green Group/Book (2nd- 3rd grade reading level - Reading Lessons Through Literature, Level 3 

 2.      Purple Group/Book (3rd- 4th grade reading level) - Reading Lessons Through Literature Level 4 

 3.      Yellow Group/Book (4th – 5th grade reading level) - I Heard Good News Today 2: Big Life 

**Class Read-alouds - Required for ALL students regardless of above reading group;

• Aladdin and Other Favorite Arabian Night Stories  
• Aesop Fables 
• Old Mother West Wind 

**NOTE: Students are expected to be reading a chapter book of choice at their appropriate fluency and comprehension level at all times. Every 4-6 weeks, we will have a “Book Share” where they share the book they are currently reading, or recently finished, with the class. The book does NOT have to be completed in order to share. This is a great way to keep them reading, gives them a platform to share their thoughts and ideas about different books and genres and gets them excited about recommending, discussing and reading new books with their friends. 

Writing – You will not need to purchase a writing curriculum. Over the course of the year, we will be using a composition notebook and will cover Fictional Narratives, Personal Narratives, Informational Essays, Persuasive/Opinion essays and Poetry.

Grammar (these curricula choices are OPTIONAL) - Due to time constraints, this subject will be done at home. Therefore, if you have a curriculum you like, please continue using it. If not, you may want to consider one of the following resources.

• 3rd Grade: Growing with Grammar 3
• 4th Grade: Spectrum Language Arts 4 

 Vocabulary - ALL students;

• Word Roots - Beginning by The Critical Thinking Company

SOCIAL STUDIES - ALL students

• America’s Story 2 by Master Books - America’s Story 2 brings history alive through a Charlotte Mason approach as it teaches upper elementary students (grades 3-6) the amazing history of the United States of America. Students will learn about the Civil War, the Wild West and the Industrial Revolution. 

 SCIENCE - ALL students:

• Exploring God’s World by Abeka Books - In Exploring God’s World, students build upon previously learned concepts and study matter and energy, the earth’s atmosphere and surface, the plant world, the solar system, animals and their habitats and the human body. 

IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO PUT YOUR STUDENT’S NAME ON THEIR BOOKS & SUPPLIES SO THEY DON’T ACCIDENTALLY GET PACKED UP BY ANOTHER STUDENT OR LEFT AT SCHOOL. It happens all the time!