Fourth Grade Academics:
Reading - Reading this year will happen in multiple ways. We have Ready Gen - a reading curriculum that we will be using. We also will be constantly reading as we go though all of the curricular areas,and we will be doing Reading Workshop - this will be a daily reading time in which students will be challenged to read 40 books throughout the year. Students will have to read a certain amount of books from each genre, but they will be able to choose their own books for this (as long as the book is a good fit for them). Much in-depth discussion and higher level thinking will take place through the daily read aloud as well.
Writing - Writing is done in all curricular areas, but there will be a Writing Workshop time as well - this will
be a time where students get to write about their choice of topics. Writing instruction will focus on Explanatory, Narrative, Informational, and Opinion Writing. There will also be several projects which include writing.
For word work and spelling this year we will begin a new program entitled Structures. This program is an extension of the Phonics First Program that the students had in earlier grades. It focuses on roots of words, along with the meanings and spelling of the words.
Math - Math this year will focus on the following areas:
Multiplication and Division Patterns and Relation
Attributes and Angles of 2-d Figures
Making Sense of Decimal Fractions
Using Big Numbers: Estimating and Calculating
Using Fractions
Using Perimeter and Area
Units of Measure and Equivalence
We will be doing a great deal of Problem Solving as well as delving into some of the fifth grade math material.
Science - Our Science Units this year:
Energy
Waves and Their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer
From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
Earth's Place in the Universe
Earth's Systems
Earth and Human Activity
Engineering Design
Social Studies - The fourth grade social studies curriculum introduces students to geographic, economic, governmental concepts through the lens of the United States. They study the physical geography of the United States as well as the cultural characteristics of regions of the country. Students analyze human systems in the United States by exploring the interaction between the people and their natural environments, the movement of people, products, and ideas, and the distinguishing features of various regions within the country. By focusing on the characteristics of the U.S. economy, students learn fundamental economic concepts and apply these to their own lives. They study economic ties between the United States and other places, and discover how their country is an interdependent part of the global economy. Students are introduced to the purposes, structure, and function of our federal government. They also examine the relationship between the rights and responsibilities of citizens in a democratic republic. Students examine current issues facing the United States and practice making and expressing informed decisions as citizens.
Technology - Technology will be integrated throughout all subject areas. We will be using both iPads and the computer lab. Students will use Google docs, drive and classroom. Students will be creating a website and also using several apps this year to create presentations.
Movement, Art and Music - I will be infusing movement, art and music into the curriculum. Brain research shows that movement is key to brain development and learning - so we will move both in the classroom as well as taking time to go outside. I also believe that art and music can enhance learning as well. Several art projects will be integrated into our lessons, and we will have a "Song of the Week" which we will analyze both for content of the lyrics as well as the structure.
Reading - Reading this year will happen in multiple ways. We have Ready Gen - a reading curriculum that we will be using. We also will be constantly reading as we go though all of the curricular areas,and we will be doing Reading Workshop - this will be a daily reading time in which students will be challenged to read 40 books throughout the year. Students will have to read a certain amount of books from each genre, but they will be able to choose their own books for this (as long as the book is a good fit for them). Much in-depth discussion and higher level thinking will take place through the daily read aloud as well.
Writing - Writing is done in all curricular areas, but there will be a Writing Workshop time as well - this will
be a time where students get to write about their choice of topics. Writing instruction will focus on Explanatory, Narrative, Informational, and Opinion Writing. There will also be several projects which include writing.
For word work and spelling this year we will begin a new program entitled Structures. This program is an extension of the Phonics First Program that the students had in earlier grades. It focuses on roots of words, along with the meanings and spelling of the words.
Math - Math this year will focus on the following areas:
Multiplication and Division Patterns and Relation
Attributes and Angles of 2-d Figures
Making Sense of Decimal Fractions
Using Big Numbers: Estimating and Calculating
Using Fractions
Using Perimeter and Area
Units of Measure and Equivalence
We will be doing a great deal of Problem Solving as well as delving into some of the fifth grade math material.
Science - Our Science Units this year:
Energy
Waves and Their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer
From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
Earth's Place in the Universe
Earth's Systems
Earth and Human Activity
Engineering Design
Social Studies - The fourth grade social studies curriculum introduces students to geographic, economic, governmental concepts through the lens of the United States. They study the physical geography of the United States as well as the cultural characteristics of regions of the country. Students analyze human systems in the United States by exploring the interaction between the people and their natural environments, the movement of people, products, and ideas, and the distinguishing features of various regions within the country. By focusing on the characteristics of the U.S. economy, students learn fundamental economic concepts and apply these to their own lives. They study economic ties between the United States and other places, and discover how their country is an interdependent part of the global economy. Students are introduced to the purposes, structure, and function of our federal government. They also examine the relationship between the rights and responsibilities of citizens in a democratic republic. Students examine current issues facing the United States and practice making and expressing informed decisions as citizens.
Technology - Technology will be integrated throughout all subject areas. We will be using both iPads and the computer lab. Students will use Google docs, drive and classroom. Students will be creating a website and also using several apps this year to create presentations.
Movement, Art and Music - I will be infusing movement, art and music into the curriculum. Brain research shows that movement is key to brain development and learning - so we will move both in the classroom as well as taking time to go outside. I also believe that art and music can enhance learning as well. Several art projects will be integrated into our lessons, and we will have a "Song of the Week" which we will analyze both for content of the lyrics as well as the structure.