Middle Grades
Third Grade
Math
In third grade there is a focus on understanding multiplication and division concepts, and mastering a fast recall of multiplication facts through ten. Additional units include fractions, measurement, and place value.
English Language Arts
Through literature circles, short stories, close reading students gain a more sophisticated level of comprehension that includes author's purpose, theme, point of view, character and setting, and fact and opinion. The writing curriculum mirrors these content areas and integrates the writing process, grammar, and vocabulary.
Social Studies
Communities! We look at how our communities have changed over time, starting with Native Americans, then Explorers and the Gold Rush, ending with our current communities. In third grade, we learn how California and other communities work together and adapt over time.
Religion
The Saints are a huge focus of the religion curriculum in third grade. We learn to live our lives in the example of the Saints.
Cursive
Students learn cursive handwriting in third grade and continue to practice this skill their years at Saint Brigid School.
Fourth Grade
Students in the fourth grade are academically challenged as they become more sophisticated readers, writers, and thinkers. They manage their work more independently which includes keeping track of their homework assignments in multiple subjects. Students collaborate with peers in group assignments, as they learn to work through long range planning to coordinate group projects.
English Language Arts
Students read and comprehend literature including stories, dramas, poetry, and informational texts. They compare and contrast, identify theme, author's purpose, and story elements through written, oral, and visual projects.
Writing
The writing curriculum includes a variety of written work, including: opinion pieces, informative, explanatory texts, narratives to develop real or imaginative experiences, and research projects to build knowledge through investigation.
Social Studies
In grade four students learn the story of their home state, California, unique in American history, in terms of geography, waves of immigration, continuous diversity, economic energy and rapid growth.
Math
Instructional time in math focuses on three critical areas: developing understanding and fluency with multi-digit multiplication and division to find quotients, developing an understanding of fraction equivalents and understanding that geometric figures can be analyzed and classified based on their properties.
Religion
With a great level of reading comprehension under their belts, fourth grade students dive into sacred scripture of both the Old Testament and the New Testament, learning faith vocabulary and content. There is an added focus on the Beatitudes, with an understanding of conscience, free choice, and the Holy Spirit.
Fifth Grade
In Fifth Grade, we have an opportunity to help others by meeting with the Kindergarteners to read and write book reports once a month. They also work on stem projects and teaching Saint Brigid Kindergarteners beginning coding. We are also privileged to be able to go to Outdoor School in Pescadero for a full week during the school year.
English Language Arts
Students practice essay writing skills, parts of speech, personal narratives, spelling, compare and contrast, identify themes, characters, setting, and plot. The students are expected to continue reading from a variety of genres and writing styles.
Social Studies
The focus for Fifth Grade Social Studies is American History, starting with Pre-Columbian and ending with the Revolutionary War. One of the main content areas is on Colonization and Thirteen Colonies. Various art projects are integrated into social studies curriculum.
Math
Students are introduced comparisib, adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing fractions and decimals using Common Core Standards.
Religion
Focus on Seven Sacraments of the Church.
