Level 2: Grades 3 and 4 "THE SEABIRDS"
Students in Level 2 are beginning to take on a broader view of the world and of their place in time. Studies delve into history and geography, with explorations ranging from personal to local, state and regional, as well as into science (oceans and marine life) and invention (innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship).
Reading
Level 2 classrooms take a workshop approach to reading, with students participating in a variety of reading activities, including independent book studies, literature circles, whole group book studies and reading materials related to thematic studies of topics such as Native American Indians or marine life. Students spend at least 65-80 minutes on reading and reading instruction Monday-Thursday and at least 30 minutes on our early-release Fridays. This workshop model allows for flexibility based on student interests, skills and needs, and nurtures a culture and love of reading. Reading in the Seabirds classrooms is one component of literacy instruction, which includes listening, speaking, writing and critical interaction with literature. We emphasize reading for comprehension with a focus on strategies and skills to build fluency, accuracy and vocabulary in a variety of genres. We value students' participation in their reading development, helping them develop skills to select the right materials to help them grow as readers. We have a wide variety of books in the classrooms, including Fountas & Pinnel's guided reading levels and leveled literature collections as well as fiction and non-fiction titles from beginning readers to advanced chapter books. Reading at Level 2 also includes teacher read-alouds from both fiction and non-fiction chapter and picture books.
Writing
Level 2 classrooms use a Writers Workshop model that focuses on the 6 traits of writing: ideas, organization, voice, sentence fluency, word choice and conventions. In addition to writing to develop skills, students write to reflect on personal progress and experiences. They also write in response to open-ended prompts and to explore Our Place through nature journals. We celebrate our writers with occasional Author's Teas, a somewhat formal celebration in which writers share their published work with an audience of their peers. A 'published work' is a piece that has been drafted, revised and edited. We use the Lucy Calkins Intermediate Writers Series, teaching the 6 traits of writing through literature. Students use writer's notebooks, personal dictionaries and personal thesaures. For spelling, we use the Sitton 3rd/4th grade spelling program, which focuses on high-frequency words, with weekly content-based 'challenge' words. Students complete daily word work in Reader's Workshop. Students build vocabulary with 'word collection' across the curriculum. Students record interesting words they learn in thematic studies, literature circles or elsewhere and learn to use the dictionary and thesaurus. Students spend 30 minutes daily in Writers Workshop with significant additional time each day writing as part of thematic studies, reading workshop, project work, personal goal reflections and more. Students work on the physical act of writing with instruction in Italic Cursive using Getty/Dubay materials.
Mathematics
As at other levels, Level 2 students study math in grade level groups as well as in mixed-age classrooms. For grade-level math, students separate into 3rd- and 4th-grade groups four times a week for an hour of math instruction. Grade-level math classes use the “Bridges in Mathematic” curriculum, which focuses on problem solving and the developing mathematical reasoning. 'Bridges' is aligned with Oregon and National Council for Teachers of Mathematics standards. During the math block, students work as a whole group, individually, in pairs and in small groups. Collaborative work encourages students to talk about math with peers and teachers, sharing strategies and solutions. This lively part of class work fuels interest in and excitement about math.
Level 2 teachers also strive to make mathematics relevant to students in grade-level and mixed-age groupings by drawing on the experiences of the children and integrating math whenever possible into other areas of study.
Social Studies & Science
Science and social studies are integrated through class-wide projects. Areas of study are drawn from state and national standards for social studies and science education including the study of heritage, culture, habitat, life cycle and others. Social studies and science units provide rich opportunities for our Out & Abouts. Examples include visits to the Oregon Historical Society Museum and Portland Art Museum to explore artwork and exhibits related to Native American studies and to the Oregon Coast Aquarium in connection with marine science studies.
Art
Art is an integrated subject at FGCS, and each art project is designed to complement the place-based curriculum of the primary class. This allows each art project to draw from the rich historical, cultural, social and political context being explored within the classes. Through this integrated approach, students are intrinsically motivated to explore artistic genres and experiment with various media and skills, because their creations have immediate relevance to their studies, families, community and world.
Level 2 students have art two times a week for a total of two hours. Building on the foundation laid in the prior level, Level 2 students continue to explore their visual voice as they focus on the basics of design. Their greater maturity allows these students to explore with a broader variety of media. Integration with courses provides depth to in-class projects. Art also happens in the main classroom as part of projects; for example, students created totem poles using recycled materials and papier mache as part of their studies of Native Americans.
Physical Activity 
We take a comprehensive view of physical activity (PA) at the school, planning our schedules and program with an eye to promoting the habits of physical activity in students. Physical education, breaks, and Out and Abouts are components of our PA program.
Physical Education
Students in Level 2 have PE once a week for 60 minutes. Our program is designed to provide movement experiences through which students continue to develop motor skills as well the characteristics of teamwork and sportsmanship. Through cooperative and competitive games, students learn how to use their bodies for a specific purpose. Choice in activities is the norm, based on our commitment to giving students voice in their education.
Breaks and Out & Abouts
Level 2 students are physical throughout the day and week. With 40 minutes of daily break time on the playground and weekly Out & Abouts - which typically involve significant walking - we model and promote activity in students.