What is Christian Education?

 

Christian education is distinctive in that it presents all subject areas in the context of God’s view of the world. When a student is taught from a Biblical worldview, by a teacher with a personal relationship with Jesus, the result is Christian Education. The student develops higher level thinking skills, character qualities, and a work/study ethic based on an understanding of what the Bible has to say about life. All of his life choices are made based on his understanding of the Bible and the plan God has for his life. Students are encouraged to develop their intellect to its fullest potential through cultivating the habits of mind that enable them to become lifelong learners. It is our desire that students who leave CCS will encounter and impact today’s culture with the ability to think Biblically, defend their faith and manage their personal and professional lives in a way that will bring honor to God.

 

What are the characteristics of a typical fourth grader?

 

The average fourth grader is all about trying his wings and becoming more independent. He will seek more separation from adults in his life, even to the point of some rebellion. He has a high energy level and needs to be a part of a group. He can experience and express a wide range of emotions and can empathize with others. A fourth grader can think independently and critically, but cares very much about the opinion of his peers.

 

During this year, you can expect your fourth grader to:

 

· develop personal interests and abilities

· begin making independent decisions

· display a greater sense of responsibility

· learn to engage in group decision making

· begin to develop social skills
· set standards for himself

 

SPIRITUAL FORMATION
  

At CCS, our spiritual formation program is the most important thing we do.  Through daily chapel and classroom Bible instruction, we want to teach our students to know His Word, praise His name and grow daily as young believers.

 
CHAPEL
  

Students in grades 1-4 participate in Chapel every morning. This is an innovative Bible memory program using word studies, pictures and American Sign Language. Students delight in learning to sing contemporary Christian music. Students also memorize passages of Scripture each month and sections of the Shorter Catechism.

  
BIBLE
  

Fourth graders study Bible doctrines and gain an understanding of how to apply what they have learned.   Unit Titles include:
· Bible Study Tools—maps, time lines, concordance

· Doctrines of the Bible--inspired by God, profitable for doctrine,     reproof, correction and instruction

· Doctrines of God

· Doctrines of Christ

· Doctrines of the Holy Spirit

  
SERVICE PROJECTS
  

Fourth grade students participate in class-specific and school-wide service projects designed to help them follow Biblical principles to serve others and benefit the community as an expression of God’s love and concern.  Some examples of previous service projects include singing at an assisted living facility,   Christmas shoeboxes for children, adopting a soldier, and Valentines for Veterans.

 

  
MATH
  

Through the study of our number system with its exact, precise, reliable and logical nature, children are provided a glimpse of our Creator. The Saxon Fourth  grade Math   program provides a system of daily instruction, practice, and       assessments to actively engage  students in the learning process.   Concepts are developed through hands-on math experiences and concrete examples that help the children develop abstract and higher-order thinking skills.  Topics include:

 

  

·Applying addition, subtraction, multiplication and division skills to solve word problems

· Adding, subtracting, multiplying   fractions and decimals

· Converting decimals, fractions, and percents

· Estimation

· Factors and multiples

· Statistics, graphing, probability

· Diameter, radius, angles

· Use of protractor and compass

 
Resources and Textbooks
  

· Open Court Reading & Writing
· Shurley English
· Saxon Math
· ABEKA Spelling
· Heritage Studies
· Discovery Works, Concordia Ed.

 
LANGUAGE ARTS

The goal of the Language Arts program in Fourth Grade is to teach students to enjoy the many avenues of communication available to them through reading, writing, speaking and listening. The   students will understand that the ability to communicate with others and with God is part of the plan God has for them. The reading emphasis is learning how to infer information and draw conclusions.

 

Highlights of the Fourth Grade Language Arts program are:

 

· Use of  strategies such as summarizing, comparing and contrasting, predicting, drawing conclusions to increase comprehension skills
· Systematic instruction in grammar using the Shurley English program
· Exposure to a variety of quality children’s literature through the reading texts, daily read-alouds and independent reading  time
· Review of high frequency word lists
· Implementation of cursive handwriting in daily work
· Spelling is taught using word     families and spelling patterns and tested via weekly assessments
· Creative writing opportunities; learning to write effective narrative, persuasive and expository paragraphs;  book reports and simple research projects
· Evaluate stories using Biblical    principles

· Developing listening and speaking skills through class presentations

 

 
SOCIAL STUDIES

Analyzing past and present events in history and identifying God’s purposes through them provides a perspective that will enable students to better affect their community and world as the Lord directs them through life.

Some of the units of study in fourth grade are:

· Florida History

· World War I

· The Roaring Twenties

· The Great Depression

· Leaders of the World

· World War II

· U.S. Geography
SCIENCE

The teaching of science at CCS is designed to reveal the glory of the Creator.  Students are taught that God is in all of science and all that takes place in nature is under the control of a sovereign God.

The fourth grade curriculum includes some of these areas of science:

· Oceans

· Properties of Matter

· Electricity & Magnetism

· Weather

 
Field Trips and Special Events

· Gulf Coast Marine Lab
· St. Augustine
· Florida History Museum
· Electricity Day