3rd and 4th Grade Program
Canterbury Brook Academy of the Arts utilizes dual-grade instructional formats through grade 6 based on best-practice data regarding elementary grade socialization, differentiation, and growth. As such, our 3rd and 4th grade students share one, large, sunny classroom with many original built-ins, a rich classroom library, and in-classroom personal storage. Our ten 3rd graders and ten 4th graders have the chance to learn and socialize flexibly, guided by their classroom teacher and full-time teacher's aide, both of whom are highly experienced and enormously well-respected in their field. Their dedicated wing is located across the hall from the intermediate school, allowing them the ability to get to know the teachers they will have in the future while still offering them the safety of their own space. Jack and Jill bathrooms are located in the connecting annex between our Primary School classrooms, meaning students have no need to leave their wing during academic hours. Their close proximity to our arts wing allows for increasing autonomy as they progress throughout the Primary School, but 3rd and 4th graders are still escorted to and from all arts classes by their teacher and aide. While our 3rd grade program flows smoothly from our Early Childhood Program, there are definite shifts that happen in the 3rd/4th grade, especially regarding expectations of increased independence. Though our 3rd and 4th graders enjoy more privileges, such as the ability to participate in the Spring Musical, Friday A La Carte snacks during lunch, and use of the older students' playground at recess, they also have more responsibilities. Our service requirement increases to two hours per quarter during Primary School, with one hour satisfied quarterly by school-sponsored events. By these grade levels, students are also engaged in quarterly projects in ELA, math, and a combined activity for the content areas. Geography and more formal instruction in science also become hallmarks of these grades, and students begin explicit instruction in study skills, enjoying their transition from learning to read to reading to learn. French language exposure also begins in grades 3 and 4, with students being gradually introduced to the language conversationally through educational songs, videos, and interactive digital activities. Beginning in grade 3, all students also take the IOWAs in the spring, allowing teachers and parents to track student progress in a very concrete way and allowing students a bit of exposure to standardized testing in a safe, nurturing environment without any of the pressure of a high-stakes exam. Their arts instruction also becomes more focused at these grade levels, splitting into recreational and preprofessional tracks in certain areas to ensure that children who wish to more seriously pursue an art form have the ability to do so. Their interaction with the 5th and 6th graders also increases during arts courses, allowing for more social interaction with children who have similar goals and passions. As happens with each year of growth, their involvement in CBA-wide events increases. Take a look below at what a day in the life of a CBA 3rd or 4th grade student looks like:
Daily Schedule
8:00-8:10: Arrival and Homeroom
8:10-9:10: ELA Period I
9:10-10:10: Multi-sensory Math Block
10:10-11:00: Social Studies (snack during class)
11:00-11:20: Mondays: French Exposure; Tuesdays and Thursdays: Mindfulness; Wednesdays and Fridays: Study Skills
11:20-12:10: STEM
12:10-12:40: ELA Period II
12:40-1:20: Lunch and Recess
1:20-2:00: A Days- Music (recreational or preprofessional); B Days- Acting and Musical Theater
2:00-2:40: Art
2:40-3:20: Dance (Recreational or Preprofessional): Monday - Ballet; Tuesday - Tap/Acro; Wednesday - Modern;
Thursday - Jazz; Friday - Hip Hop
3:20-3:30: Pack and Dismissal
8:10-9:10: ELA Period I
9:10-10:10: Multi-sensory Math Block
10:10-11:00: Social Studies (snack during class)
11:00-11:20: Mondays: French Exposure; Tuesdays and Thursdays: Mindfulness; Wednesdays and Fridays: Study Skills
11:20-12:10: STEM
12:10-12:40: ELA Period II
12:40-1:20: Lunch and Recess
1:20-2:00: A Days- Music (recreational or preprofessional); B Days- Acting and Musical Theater
2:00-2:40: Art
2:40-3:20: Dance (Recreational or Preprofessional): Monday - Ballet; Tuesday - Tap/Acro; Wednesday - Modern;
Thursday - Jazz; Friday - Hip Hop
3:20-3:30: Pack and Dismissal
Teachers' Bios
,Mrs. Michelle Daly : Lead Teacher
Mrs. Daly received her Bachelors from Hofstra University in both Elementary Education and Psychology. She then went on to earn a Masters Degree in Special Education from Mount Saint Mary College. She feels privileged to have gained teaching experience working with students in a wide variety of K-12 settings, both here in the US as well as internationally in Southeast Asia. She is committed in her passion for learning, and her teaching is rooted in the belief that a holistic education is a child's foundation for success. When she is not at school, she enjoys traveling, yoga, and skiing. She is also passionate about the outdoors, her family, and her two dogs. Mrs. Daly is excited to work with her third and fourth graders this year, as well as with our fifth and sixth graders in her role as the Dean of the Primary School.
Mrs. Jaimie Roohan : Teacher's Assistant
Mrs. Roohan lived for most of her life in the town of Rockaway Beach, New York, in Queens. While attending Kingsborough Community College, she took a job working for the New York City Board of Education as a paraprofessional. This allowed her the opportunity to gain experience working with handicapped students. After graduating, Mrs. Roohan went on to study Early Childhood Education at Mercy College. For twelve years, she worked in the same grammar school, serving children of many different ages. During this time, Mrs. Roohan got married and started her life as a proud mother of four. After her daughter was born with life-threatening food allergies, she was forced to take a childcare leave from her job teaching and learn to cook in a safe way for her child. Becoming an allergy mom, Mrs. Roohan realized just how many children there were out there struggling like her own child was and how many moms felt desperate for help, just as she had experienced. She threw herself into helping these children and families, becoming an allergy-free baker. Once her daughter started preK, Mrs. Roohan was able to return to her passion in the classroom while still baking to support the allergy community. She was lucky enough to find a position in the same school where her daughter attended, and they enjoyed five happy years there. When Super Storm Sandy hit her hometown, it was destroyed, along with their beloved school. They left their home, moving to Orange County, where she continued her work as an educator and allergy-free baker. Mrs. Roohan is delighted that all of her paths in life so far have lead her to Canterbury Brook Academy of the Arts! She looks so forward to working with parents and students and starting an exciting new beginning in this beautiful school.
Mrs. Daly received her Bachelors from Hofstra University in both Elementary Education and Psychology. She then went on to earn a Masters Degree in Special Education from Mount Saint Mary College. She feels privileged to have gained teaching experience working with students in a wide variety of K-12 settings, both here in the US as well as internationally in Southeast Asia. She is committed in her passion for learning, and her teaching is rooted in the belief that a holistic education is a child's foundation for success. When she is not at school, she enjoys traveling, yoga, and skiing. She is also passionate about the outdoors, her family, and her two dogs. Mrs. Daly is excited to work with her third and fourth graders this year, as well as with our fifth and sixth graders in her role as the Dean of the Primary School.
Mrs. Jaimie Roohan : Teacher's Assistant
Mrs. Roohan lived for most of her life in the town of Rockaway Beach, New York, in Queens. While attending Kingsborough Community College, she took a job working for the New York City Board of Education as a paraprofessional. This allowed her the opportunity to gain experience working with handicapped students. After graduating, Mrs. Roohan went on to study Early Childhood Education at Mercy College. For twelve years, she worked in the same grammar school, serving children of many different ages. During this time, Mrs. Roohan got married and started her life as a proud mother of four. After her daughter was born with life-threatening food allergies, she was forced to take a childcare leave from her job teaching and learn to cook in a safe way for her child. Becoming an allergy mom, Mrs. Roohan realized just how many children there were out there struggling like her own child was and how many moms felt desperate for help, just as she had experienced. She threw herself into helping these children and families, becoming an allergy-free baker. Once her daughter started preK, Mrs. Roohan was able to return to her passion in the classroom while still baking to support the allergy community. She was lucky enough to find a position in the same school where her daughter attended, and they enjoyed five happy years there. When Super Storm Sandy hit her hometown, it was destroyed, along with their beloved school. They left their home, moving to Orange County, where she continued her work as an educator and allergy-free baker. Mrs. Roohan is delighted that all of her paths in life so far have lead her to Canterbury Brook Academy of the Arts! She looks so forward to working with parents and students and starting an exciting new beginning in this beautiful school.
