_edited_edited_edited_edited.jpg)
Elementary 3rd / 4th Grade
We cultivate self-confidence, independence, creativity, and a passion for learning in our students. Our engaging, low-stress, student-focused environment encourages productive learning, critical thinking, and innovation in a fun and supportive space. Our curriculum and instructional practices at all levels embrace a quality-over-quantity approach, allowing students in the upper elementary years to apply their reading and writing skills to practical application and deepening content knowledge. We believe students thrive when they are fully engaged and suitably challenged, without being bombarded with excess busywork. Our curriculum across all subjects is engaging and hands-on. It is structured enough to cover the core skills and standards, yet flexible enough to adapt instruction and assignments to meet students' interests and abilities. We understand the importance of breaks and social interaction, therefore, we offer a balanced 'work hard, play hard' schedule where all groups, no matter their age, benefit from a 30-minute outdoor playtime in the morning, along with a generous hour-long outdoor break for lunch and play.
Our flexible attendance options allow you to choose a program that meets your family's needs, style, and schedule!
Overview
Elementary 3rd/4th Program Hours
4 Day Academic Program
Monday - Thursday
9:00 - 2:30
Elementary Hybrid (3/4)
Monday & Wednesdays
9:00 - 2:30
Primary Plus (2nd / 3rd)
Tuesday & Thursday
9:00 - 2:00
Friday Learning Labs
Friday
9:00 - 2:30
After School Enrichment
Monday - Thursday
2:00 - 4:00
Elementary 3/4 Curriculum
Math
The focus of our math program is understanding mathematical concepts and building mathematical fluency through hands-on, standards-aligned math instruction. In our primary program, we use a blend of teacher-curated materials paired with an instructional workbook (IXL or Math Mammoth).
ELA
Our ELA program is geared to learning to read, write, and comprehend literature and informational text effectively. Our science-backed Orton Gillingham phonics program offers explicit, systematic, multisensory instruction in phonemic awareness, decoding, spelling, basic grammar concepts, letter formation, reading fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, ensuring our students become strong and confident readers and writers!
Science / Social Studies
The content-based subjects of science and social studies culminate our day and provide an opportunity to explore exciting, standards-inspired topics through hands-on labs and fun investigations!
Math
The focus of our math program is understanding mathematical concepts and building mathematical fluency through a mix of hands-on instructional approaches and reinforcement through our selected math curriculum (Math Mammoth). Math Mammoth is mastery-oriented and focuses strongly on conceptual understanding. It features visual models and exercises and offers an emphasis on mental math and number sense. This curriculum features full explanations of concepts that are included in the student books and blends newer math approaches with traditional methods, making it an easy-to-follow program for students and their supporting parent. Students will be placed in the math cohort and workbook that best aligns to their current working skillset in math.
Structured Literacy
Our structured literacy program continues into third and fourth grade, offering students sequential and explicit OG-based instruction in decoding, encoding, and syllabication, plus added emphasis on morphology (UFLI). At this age, students begin a more robust learning in grammar (Spectrum Language Arts or Evan Moore) and vocabulary (Word Wisdom).
Reading & Composition
With strengthening reading and writing skills, third and fourth graders are now able to "read to learn" and “write to convey meaning.” Teacher-curated literature and novel studies and informative text selections (Word Wisdom, Science-based texts, etc.) create the framework deeper understanding and comprehension of more complex texts. Our composition curriculum (Building Writers) informs students on the mechanics of writing the common essay types, and serves as a springboard to writing more complex, content- or interest-based writing projects.
Science
Our hands-on science curriculum (Elemental Science) offers students an immersive and robust learning experience. Through engaging informational readings, interactive labs, journaling, drawing, and creative projects, students develop a deep understanding of key scientific concepts. Each year focuses on one specific area of science, allowing for an in-depth exploration of biology, chemistry, physics, or earth science. By the time students complete their journey with us, they have gained a comprehensive, age-appropriate foundation in these core scientific disciplines, fostering curiosity and a love for discovery.
Social Studies
Aligned with the GA Standards for Excellence, students in third grade begin a three-year study of United States history in which all four strands (history, geography, civics/government, and economics) are integrated. Through our teacher-curated curriculum, students learn about American Indian cultures and the exploration and colonization of North America. The geography strand emphasizes the influence of geography on early U.S. history. In the civics/government strand, students learn about the elements of our representative democracy and their rights and responsibilities as good citizens. Students will extend and apply their understanding of basic economic concepts.
Beyond Worksheets
Learning becomes truly impactful when students can engage, explore, and interact with concepts in meaningful ways. Our program strikes a thoughtful balance between direct instruction, traditional paper-and-pencil practice, and dynamic hands-on activities. From interactive games to creative projects or immersive labs, every element of our curriculum combines workbook-based learning with practical, real-world applications.
Sample Schedule
Academic Schedule (M - TH)
9:00 - 9:15 - Free Play / Welcome
9:15 - 10:15 - Math
10:15 - 10:45 - Snack / Outdoor Play
10:45 - 11:00 - DEAR Time
11:00 - 12:15 - Language Arts
Structured Literacy (Reading, Vocab)
Literature & Composition
12:15 - 1:15 - Lunch / Outdoor Play
1:15 - 1:45 - Grammar / Spelling
1:45 - 2:30: Content Block
M: Science
T: STEAM / Science Lab
W: Social Studies
TH: Enrichment Block
Friday Learning Lab
9:00 - 9:15 - Free Play / Welcome
9:15 - 10:10 - Learning Lab 1
10:10 - 10:40 - Snack / Outdoor Play
10:40 - 11:00 - Community Time
11:00 - 11:50 - Learning Lab 2
11:50 - 12:30 - Learning Lab 3
12:30 - 1:30 - Lunch / Outdoor Play
1:30 - 2:30 - Cultural Explorations
Learning Labs: Creative Writing, Math Lab, Spectacular Science, Cultural Explorations
Stay & Play (After Care)
2:00 - 2:30 - Free Play
2:30 - 2:45 - Snack
2:45 - 3:30 - Activity of the Day
E.g. Gymnastics, Art, Cooking, etc.
3:30 - 4:00 - Guided Games/ Free Play
UNDERSTANDING GA LAW
Georgia law requires that all homeschooling families submit an annual Declaration of Intent to Homeschool. Parents must provide their learner with instruction in four core subjects of ELA, math, science, and social studies. Students must receive 4.5 hours of learning opportunities for 180 days per year. There are no mandated instructional hours or standards in any given subject, nor are there any mandatory graduation requirements for homeschoolers aside from being 16 years old. Students must take a standardized test every three years (starting in 3rd grade) and families must write an annual progress summary. While the law provides a lot of liberties to homeschoolers, most families seeking our services generally want their child to receive quality, standards-aligned instruction in the core subjects in a relaxed, hands-on, creative setting that embraces the experience of family and childhood, while fostering independence, creativity, critical thinking, friendships, a sense of community, and self-confidence.
It is important to note that only the 5-day track meets the instructional hours requirement, meaning families must continue the learning process at home. Home learning can include our supplied home study curriculum (C4 program only), enrichment classes, or any other learning activities such as field trips, sports, cooking, reading, music lessons, language classes, reading activities, science experiments, etc. Both the Core 4 and Deep Learning programs offer instruction in the mandated subjects. The Core 4 program aligns to Georgia Standards for Excellence, while the Deep Learning programs support the standards in a more broad-scope fashion.
Students enrolled in our Core 4 program will receive 2 days of home study, mid-year conferences,
and an annual progress summary. We do not currently offer standardized testing.