School Calendar
A Balanced Literacy Approach / Language Arts
Our Curriculum
Kindergarten
- To be able to read above his / her age level
- To be able to use art and understand primary &secondary colors
- Numbers, letters, and dot-to-dots
- Words & sentences structures
- To be able to recognize and understand body & health
- Maps
- To be able to understand weather, climates, and more
First Grade (1st)
Reading & Writing
- Read Aloud / Modeling Writing
- Shared Reading & Writing
- Guided Reading & Writing
- Independent Reading & Writing
- Word / Sentence Study
* 5 P’s of Reading Instruction:
- Phonetic awareness
- Phonics
- Fluency
- Vocabulary
- Comprehension
Social Studies / History
Culture of / Families:
- Importance of Rules, Citizenship & Laws
- Native American Life
- History of Mayflower Voyage, Pilgrim Life, etc.
- Family Traditions & Holidays
- American History – Abraham Lincoln / George Washington, etc.
- Black History – Dr. King, Harriet Tubman, Others
- Origin & Significance of the American Flag
Mathematics
- Number Relationship
- Place Values
- Pattern & Sequence
- Weight & Measurement
- Calendar, Time & Money
- Two (2) Digit Addition & Subtraction
- Introduction to Multiplication
Sciences
- The Solar System
- Properties of Air
- Properties of Matter
- Basic Volcanoes
- Insect Life
- Connection between Concepts & Real-Life Situations
Introduction of Everyday / Real Life Situations:
- Grocery shopping
- Meal preparation
- Sewing
- Resumes
- Buddy System with Younger Students
- Mentor with Teacher
Second (2nd) Grade
Mathematics
- Review mastering of addition and subtraction and strategies involved
- Adding and subtracting three-digit numbers with and without grouping
- Read, write, count and compare money
- Time scale on Am and PM and understanding the concept of time
Sciences
- Scientific and vocabulary building
- Properties of water, oceans and plants
- Light, heat and sound energy
- Connect dots from past to present
Social Studies / History
- Read and interpret globe/map
- Fundamental geographic terminology
- Awareness of cultural differences, government of communities, state and nations
- North Carolina history to include community you live in
- Different career and job paths in a community
- Requirement of educational skills for job performance
Third (3rd) Grade
Our third graders now “read to learn”, rather than “learn to read”. They write book projects as well as examine parts of speech thoroughly. Third graders use nonfiction books to complete research for social studies projects such as presidential trading cards and state fun facts. Social studies plays a significant role in the curriculum this year. In math, third graders work as “math detectives” to problem solve, learning how to use their math skills to determine necessary steps to find a solution.
Language Arts
- All genres of literature are explored through the use of basal readers and various other literature sources and class novel study
- Reading comprehension focuses on reading fluency, thinking critically, drawing conclusions and story structure
- Weekly spelling units are taught phonetically and continue to build word recognition, vocabulary, and patterning
- Dictionary and thesaurus skills are utilized with in the spelling program
- Writing units include exploration and written expression of narrative, informational, persuasive, and fiction pieces
- The writing process highlights sentence structure, capitalization, punctuation, paragraph writing and proofreading
- Cursive handwriting is reviewed and refined throughout the year
- Book reports incorporate the development of all language art skills
Social Studies / History
- Map skills and geographical terms
- The seven regions of the United States
- Identification of the United States, its states, and the capitals
- Awareness of different cultures in the United States
- Understanding of tall tales associated with each region
- Understanding of the Underground Railroad
- Amish traditions and ways of life
Mathematics
- Mastery of the basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts
- Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division instruction is expanded to include multi-step procedures
- Solve division problems and interpret the remainder
- Calculation of elapsed time and calendar
- Add and subtract money to solve real-world problems
- Read, write, and compare numbers up to 10,000
- Collect, organize and analyze data in bar graphs, line plots and frequency charts
- Develop an understanding of equivalent fractions and lowest terms
- Introduce addition and subtraction of like fractions
- Extension of geometric concepts to include perimeter and area of plane figures
- Extension of standard and metric measurement skills
- Develop problem solving strategies and mathematical reasoning through critical thinking
Sciences
- Scientific and vocabulary building
- Properties of water, oceans and plants
- Light, heat and sound energy
- Connect dots from past to present
Elective: Art, Computer, French
Fourth(4th) & Fifth(5th) Grade
Our 4th and 5th graders demonstrate even greater independence and responsibility. They take part in their first overnight school camping trip where the students study the environment and sharpen their team building skills. They work on their first research paper using a cross curricular approach to research. Additionally they participate in Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) as part of their health education.
Language Arts
With explicit instruction and ample opportunity for practice, we approach writing instruction as a necessary skill for success in life. Writing focuses on the writing we read in life; fiction, non-fiction, persuasive, poems, reviews, instructional, narratives, research, and for an audience of readers, not just the teacher. Writing about subjects important to them, students cycle through the writing process by rehearsing, drafting, revising, editing and publishing their works.
- Literacy is explored with the use of a basal series and is reinforced through novel studies
- Reading comprehension further develops with literary genres, plot, conflict, characterization, making predictions, figurative language, author’s purpose and making inferences
- Student writing includes imaginative and personal narratives, reader response journals, descriptive writing, friendly letters and expository writing
- The writing process is used to brainstorm, collect information, proofread and edit work
- Weekly spelling units enhance knowledge of phonetics, patterns, dictionary skills and vocabulary
- Cursive writing is refined
- Writing instruction is individualized for each student
- Sentence structure, capitalization, parts of speech and punctuation continue to develop
- Summer reading is assigned to provide continue growth to the reader and writer
Sciences
- The scientific method
- Solar System
- Lego Mindstorm robots
- Self-led labs with write up observation
Mathematics
- Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division of whole number, decimals and fractions
- Apply Factors and multiples of whole numbers to the study of fractions
- Interpret,compare, add and subtract whole numbers, fractions and decimals
- Identify prime and composite numbers, greatest common factor, least common multiple
- Read, interpret and create frequency tables, stem and leaf plots, bar, line and circle graphs
- Calculate mean, median, mode and range of data to interpret outcomes
- Interpret, compare and order whole numbers, fractions, decimals and percentages
- Extension of geometric concepts to include measurement of 3 dimensional figures
- Develop problem solving strategies and mathematical reasoning through critical thinking
Social Studies / History
- Migration of Native Americans from Asia
- Difficulties of early American settlers
- Characteristics of South American colonies
- European contributions to exploration
- Founding and evolving of the early American colonies
- Latitude and Longitude
- Physical features of the United States
- Interpretation of different map types
Get In Touch
Location: 1909B S. Glenburnie Rd. New Bern, NC 28560
Telephone: (252) 631-2593
Email: beartownacademy@gmail.com
School Hours: Monday-Thursday: 7:45 am - 3:45pm
Fri, Sat & Sun: Closed
