UPPER ELEMENTARY

Grade 2-6 writing focuses on the writing process and emphasizes narrative, opinion, and information as they prepare for multi-paragraph writing.

Literacy in Grade 4 focuses on collaborative novel studies and engaging discussions that often connect to other unit studies like California history. Students are guided by the Hochman Method, an evidence-based approach that advances thinking through writing by resting on explicit, carefully sequenced instruction, building from sentences to composition. Through writing as students explore diverse global themes and issues.

Active listening and in-depth discussions fuel writing across genres. Individualized feedback strengthens the writing process, encouraging students to draft, revise, edit, and publish pieces with strong vocabulary and varied sentence structure. Literacy skills are also applied as fourth graders prepare podcasts related to their unit studies.

Math in Grade 4 places an equal emphasis on conceptual understanding and fluency with skills. Students strengthen their understanding of numbers through operations with whole numbers, decimals, and fractions, while challenging their problem-solving and mental math skills using The Singapore Math approach. Students study geometry, angle measurements, and spatial relationships while analyzing and interpreting data from graphics and tables. Measurement concepts are also solidified as they study length, mass, volume, and time.

Social Studies in Grade 4 explores California history and geography. Students study the state’s evolution from its Indigenous roots through Spanish colonization, the Gold Rush, and the challenges and triumphs of its diverse population. Through engaging cross-curricular projects and field trips, teachers bring these study units to life as students learn about California’s story.

Specialty classes are an integral part of our curriculum. By partnering with homeroom teachers, specialty teachers enrich core subjects and foster real-world connections through cross-disciplinary learning.

A rotating weekly schedule exposes students to a variety of specialty subjects daily, cultivating their curiosity and fostering capable learners with a growth mindset. Students approach and work through each project with this growth mindset, applying the design-thinking model. In this model, students observe, ask questions, guess, predict, test, and conclude.

Specialty classes include:

• Science & Design: 3 times per cycle
• P.E.: 3 times per cycle
• Music: 2 times per cycle
• Spanish: 2 times per cycle
• Library: once per cycle
• Visual Art: once per cycle
• Digital Citizenship: once per cycle

At school, children learn valuable life skills that go beyond academics. Through interactions with peers and teachers, they develop a sense of community and learn to care for themselves, others, and the environment.

Our Gillispie Values – Integrity, Compassion, Attitude, Respect, and Effort (ICARE) – guide both students and faculty. These values form the foundation of our important work and shape our school culture. We work together as a community to create a joyful learning environment and a vibrant community that embodies kindness, honesty, empathy, hard work, and respect. We strive to exhibit these five ICARE values in all aspects of school life.

Additionally, our Responsive Classroom approach fosters collaboration among students. They learn to solve problems together, build confidence as a team, and create a nurturing environment where everyone feels safe and supported.

Beyond the school day, we offer a wide range of fee-based, enrichment opportunities. From creative arts like painting and ceramics, to theater, sports, movement, and STEM-focused programs like coding and space camp, there’s something for every interest. Our after-school programs and summer camps provide more ways your child can engage in learning opportunities throughout the year. Additionally, students can join our early morning running club!