This year, our upper grade students will be participating in a variety of exciting, thought provoking programs, designed to enrich their learning experience and prepare them for middle school. Our program is enhanced by hands-on activities in all subject areas, guest speakers, assembly programs, and field trips. Our limited class size fosters individual achievement and frequent one-on-one student/teacher interaction.

As with all academic areas at SAGE, our upper grade Social Studies program entails grade specific concepts consistent with the California State Standards. Fifth graders will explore U.S. history, beginning with Native American cultures, and then continue with European exploration and colonization, as well as the Revolutionary and Civil War eras. Sixth graders will study ancient civilizations, including: Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Both grade levels are using the "Social Studies Alive" program, which combines textbook research and project based learning.

Our Reading program covers both reading fluency and comprehension. Our goal is to foster a love for reading through exposure to all types of literature. Students work in literature circles (mini book clubs) and also participate in small group instruction in comprehension. Monthly book reports are assigned to both 5th and 6th graders, to enhance their understanding of a variety of literature genres.

Writing focuses on the 6 traits of effective writing: Ideas, Organization, Conventions, Sentence Fluency, Voice, and Word Choice. This program allows our students to recognize good writing and how to achieve it.

The upper grade Math program focuses on problem solving, calculation, test taking strategies, and the integration of mathematics into other subject areas as well as every day life situations. Pre-algebra concepts are incorporated into each math unit.