As the year draws to a close, we must concentrate on preparing for the End of Grade tests!! Most of the children worked as well as they could throughout the year and now it is time to both prepare and actually take the exams. There have been some changes announced recently, the most important of which for Fourth grade is that any child who does not pass their first attempt will be required to retake the test. In the past, parents could choose not to have their child retested, but that option has been removed.
Our trip to the Outer Banks is fast approaching! We are looking forward to an exciting, learning-oriented excursion to extend our understanding of this beautiful and historic paart of our state. Thank you to everyone who helped to make this outing possible. A required parent meeting is planned for before we leave.
The following are the goals of the Fourth grade curriculum:
READING:
Goal 1: APPLY ENABLING STRATEGIES TO READ AND WRITE.
1.03: Identify key words and discover their meanings through a variety of strategies
Goal 2: APPLY STRATEGIES AND SKILLS TO COMPREHEND TEXT THAT IS READ, HEARD, AND VIEWED.
2.01: Think about the topic, the text, and what the author is trying to say WHILE READING
2.02: Interact with text before, during and after reading listening and viewing by setting a purpose using prior knowledge and text information, making predictions, formulating questions, locating relevant information, and making connections with previous experiences,
information, and ideas.
2.03: Read a variety of texts including fiction and non-fiction.
2.04: Identify and interpret elements of fiction, non-fiction, and support by referencing the text to determine the plot, main idea, supporting details, and author?s choice of words.
2.05: Make inferences, draw conclusions, make generalizations, and support by referencing the text.
2.06: Summarize major points from fiction and non-fiction materials.
Goal 3: MAKE CONNECTIONS THROUGH THE USE OF ORAL LANGUAGE, WRITTEN LANGUAGE, MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY
3.01: Respond to literature using interpretive, critical, and evaluative processes by examining the reasons for characters’ actions, making inferences, and drawing conclusions about characters, events, and themes.
3.02: Analyze characters, events, and plots by comparing and contrasting various selections. Cite sources.
3.03: Be aware of how language and visuals bring characters to life, enhance the plot, and produce a response in the reader.
3.04: Make informed judgements about television and film/video productions.
We have been using the reading series available in the school, leveled readers, and other texts to accomplish these goals.
The Language Arts Curriculum in fourth grade is extremely diverse. The skills of reading, comprehension, higher level thinking, spelling, grammar, listening as a learning tool, and writing will continue to be a major focus as we work our way through the very full curriculum. Reading and writing will focus on the study of various genres and the ability to demonstrate understanding by answering a large variety of high level questions. A great deal of time and effort will be spent on writing good sentences with correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar (conventions), as well as well-organized paragraphs, with appropriate details (support and elaboration). In fourth grade, the writing test looms very large and we will be expecting all students to do their best to become proficient writers. Your children will also be completing integrated studies this year. Look for more information on these projects at the beginning of each quarter.
Accelerated Reading is something everyone understands. Research has proven that parents who support and model reading in the home help to produce more competent readers in their children and good readers go on to be more successful in school and in the workplace. Please be sure that your children read at least thirty minutes each night for at least six nights each week. Although we will not assign points to be reached, I will be watching the students’ scores. You are now able to check your child’s AR progress at home on your computer. Information with a user name and password was sent home in the Tuesday folders on September 14.
Normally, each week a new story in the Basal Reader is studied. On Monday the story is previewed and spelling words are introduced. On Tuesday the class participates in guided reading with me and specific skill lessons are taught. On Wednesday students reread the story with a partner and answer comprehension questions using the QAR technique. On Thursday the focus is on End of Grade Type Questions and more skill development related to the specific skills being taught each week. Friday brings a spelling test and a Reader Response activity. Home work is assigned nightly to support the daily lessons in the classroom.
WRITING
Goal 4: APPLY SKILLS AND STRATEGIES TO CREATE ORAL, WRITTEN, AND VISUAL TEXTS
4.02: Use oral and written language to present information in a clear,
concise manner, and participate in discussions appropriately.
We have been using the Writer’s Workshop and related, teacher developed lessons to accomplish these goals.
Writing is integrated into the reading program, but is also taught as a discrete subject, as fourth grade students must be able to write personal narratives, imaginative narratives, and research papres, also known as content-based writing reports, at this level. We have been working to write a variety of complete sentences using subjects and predicates, as well as compound subjects and predicates with correct punctuation and capitalization. Incorporating adjectives and adverbs to add detail and good elaboration has also been a priority. Using topic sentences and putting ideas into a good order (sequence) was next on the agenda. We are also using story elements to think about a good beginning, middle and end to each paper.
MATH
Goal 1: READ, WRITE, MODEL, AND COMPUTE WITH NON-NEGATIVE RATIONAL NUMBERS.
1.01: Develop number sense for whole numbers through 99,999 by understanding place value, estimating, comparing and ordering, and representing knowledge in a a variety of ways.
1.02: Develop fluency with multiplication and division by reviewing current understanding.
1.05: Develop flexibility in solving word problems by selecting appropriate strategies, using mental computation, estimation, calculators, and paper and pencil.
Goal 3: RECOGNIZE AND USE GEOMETRIC PROPERTIES
3.01: Use the coordinate system to describe the location and relative position of points and draw figures in the first quadrant.
We have been using the manipulative materials, print materials, and related, teacher developed lessons to accomplish these goals.
Fourth graders have been reviewing and expanding their math skills in numeration. As the year progresses, we will work on computation, problem solving, measurement, graphing, fractions, decimals, data analysis, probability and algebra. Knowledge of all math facts (adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing) is an essential skill for fourth grade students. This year students will be taught to incorporate algebra into their problem solving.
For example, in a problem like:
Jane is going shopping. She buys 5 apples for $2.25, a quart of milk for $1.25, and 2 loaves of bread for $2.50. How much change will she get back from $10.00?
The children will learn to follow three steps:
1. Write the equation, which is the PLAN for solving the problem:
$10.00- ($2.25 + $1.25 + $2.50) = n
2. Do the work:
Step 1: $2.25 Step 2: $10.00
$1.25 -$ 6.00
$2.50 $4.00
$6.00
3. Record the answer in an n =sentence. n = $6.00
Accelerated Math will be used for some homework assignments. Students will scores their AM during Morning Work and complete their corrections. Unfinished corrections must always be done before starting a new assignment because the new assignment will have questions like the ones the student missed on the previous assignment.
We will complete and review concepts in math, as required, and will also be trying to finish our Accelerated Math and Multiplication Skills programs.
SCIENCE
In Science, we will study animal adaptations, rocks and minerals, electricity and magnets, as well as nutrition and the digestive system. We study one area per quarter. Because students are now tested in Science in fifth grade, the teaching of this subject will be explicit. It will include vocabulary and definitions, as well as concepts and experiments. (All students are encouraged to enter the Science Fair!) We use print materials, experiments, and related, teacher developed activities to accomplish these goals.
SOCIAL STUDIES
This year students study the history of North Carolina.
The seven goals of the Social Studies curriculum require a good deal of creativity to cover! We have been using integrated studies, text books, and related, teacher developed activities to accomplish these goals. Social Studies involves the study of geography, regions, and early settlement of North Carolina. We will enjoy some field trips this year, as well, notably the three day, two night trip to the Outer Banks.
The use of technology will be integrated into as many learning strands as possible. We will use the computer for Accelerated Math, Science, Writing, and many other activities over the year.
All assignments are due the day after being assigned, unless the assignment is a special project with a longer due date. Fourth graders should do up to about 40 minutes of work each night, 4 nights each week. Homework completion counts for 10% of each each student’s various grades, so it is important that students use their planners to record homework properly, get the necessary books and materials home each evening, and that parents check homework nightly, assisting when necessary.
Regular communication between parents and teacher is crucial to students’ learning, but the main responsibility for homework completion rests with the student. Students are expected to record assignments in their planner and ask for help, when necessary.
On Tuesdays communication folders will be sent home. The grades on the papers inside are used as part of the quarterly grade. Not all papers are used for report card grades, but most are and, as explained above, completion of all homework on time contributes to better grades. Please review the week?s work with your child, sign the cover sheet, and return the empty folder the following morning.
The following is a list of our revised enhancement times:
SUBJECT DAY TIME
Bible Tuesday 12:30-1:00
PE Wednesday 1:00-1:50
Music Wednesday 1:50-2:40
Art Thursday 12:30-1:20
Guidance Friday 12:20-12:50
Lunch Daily 11:39-12:09
Recess Daily ex. Wed. 11:00-11:30
Together, we can make this a meaningful and exciting year for your child! Here are some of the things you can do to help at home:
1. Be sure your child gets plenty of rest.
2. Encourage the consumption of nutritious food.
3. Have your child to school on time each day.
4. Monitor your child’s homework completion. Please contact us if your child is having difficulty.
5. Sign the planner daily, after keeping an eye on your child during homework completion.
6. Stress good behavior on the bus and at school.
7. Support your child’s at-home reading.
Please feel free to call me at 704-278-2750 if you have any questions or concerns.
Some Favorite Links:
Manage Favorite Links for this Page
www.dogpile.com
www.ask.com
www.kids.discovery.com
www.pbskids.org
www.ncwiseowl.org/zones/elementary
www.funbrain.com
Top
Favorite Links
• dogpile search engine excellent resource
• ask search engine good resource
• discovery channel for kids
• pbs for kids
• nc wise owl changes monthly
• funbrain good activities
[ Back ]
HELP | ADVERTISE | ABOUT US | PRIVACY
Copyright © Education World, Inc. ®
