Ms. Lori's 4th Grade Class
Lori graduated from Chico State University with a major in Social Science and began working at Hewlett-Packard as a Buyer. While working for HP, she began working on a teaching credential and having children. All three girls graduated from NCSA and are now in high school and attending college. She continued her education by getting a Masters in Education in 2007. She taught 4th and 5th grades in the Cambrian School District in San Jose before moving to Nevada City. She began the Home Study Program at NCSA and taught it for several years before taking on the 4th grade Classroom.
We are a class of 24 students who enjoy exploring our world. We learn about the geography and the historical events that shaped our state through hands-on and interactive studies. As an art school, we incorporate the arts in social studies, language arts and science. Students receive instruction from the following
Specialists each week:
General Music: 1x/week
Choir: 1x/week
Music Electives: 2x/week
Art: 2x/week
Drama: 2x/week
Movement: 2x/week.
In Science, we are excited to be in our fourth year of our “Watershed Academy” with both the 4th and 5th grade classes. We follow the local Yuba River watershed from its source in the Sierras to the estuary before it flows into the bay. We learn about water and the challenges our society faces in keeping our water clean and sustainable. Some of the larger science units include raising salmon in the classroom before releasing them in the river. Nature journaling is an intricate part of our science studies.
Language Arts supports into our social studies and science units focusing on paragraph and narrative writing skills. Literature includes Island of the Blue Dolphin, Frindle, Historical Fiction and many more… We love to read and later in the year challenge the students to read books from different genres.
Math is explored daily in group settings using YouCubed and Estimation 180 activities. We encourage looking at math in different ways and encouraging a growth mindset. We use the Math In Focus curriculum.
We love exploring our world in person, so we average 8 field trips a year. Trips include both day trips and overnight trips. Past trips have been to the Wild & Scenic Film Festival, Salmon Walks or Float, Nimbus Fish Hatchery, the Sacramento Capitol Building, CA State Museum, Esquire IMAX, and more… This year, our overnight field trip will be to the Pigeon Point State Park.
Keep your eyes open to the discoveries we make as we explore our world.