Some brief descriptions of the programs and procedures in fourth grade
are listed below.
Religion - Our Religion curriculum is titled Walking By Faith. It emphasizes the
themes of morality and choices. The main focus is the Beatitudes
and the Ten Commandments and how to put these guidelines into action in daily
living.
Reading - The Reading program is the Open Court : Collections For Young
Scholars. This program emphasizes reading comprehension and fluency.
The students will have many opportunities to read silently and orally. They will
learn and use strategies to assist them in decoding new vocabulary words and
deciphering their meanings. One main focus is the study of word
origins and the meanings of prefixes and suffixes. In addition to word parts, the
children will learn various letter combinations and spelling patterns in words.
Discussing and writing personal reactions and opinions to various stories and articles
are also major components of the series.
Math - Fourth grade Math centers around the understanding and use of
the basic fact skills especially multiplication and division. The text is
titled Math Advantage. The students will spend a good deal of time on problem
solving, estimating, graphing, geometry, fractions, and other related skills.
The students will be required to describe in writing the steps that
determine their thought processes when they solve problems. This often involves
drawing a simple sketch or diagram. The children will have many opportunities to
discuss problems and solve problems collaboratively with a partner or in small
groups.
Language Arts - The curriculum begins by reviewing the skills learned
in writing complete sentences. Then the students will utilize those
skills to write many paragraphs and stories. It is important for the students to learn
to communicate thoughts in writing in a logical and organized way. The
students will learn and use the writing process: prewrite, first draft,
revise/proofread, edit, and publish in most of their writings.
We will also be using a program called Daily Oral Language. The children are asked
to locate grammatical and spelling errors in sentences, and then
correct the errors. All of the corrections are discussed together in class. The goal
of this program is to learn and practice grammar within the
context of sentences and paragraphs, rather than in isolated exercises.
Social Studies - The fourth graders will be studying Washington State history.
They will be reading, writing, and working on reports and projects to help them learn
and understand the information. The students will be using
a newspaper called Washington Studies Weekly. This publication is written specifically
for fourth graders studying Washington State history.
They will also be using a book called Washington Adventure.
Science - The students will be learning and using the scientific method
to investigate the world through inquiry, discovery, and experimentation.
They will be recording notes and writing lab reports. The series covers
topics from all three divisions in science: earth, life, and physical. A unit on
the health, care, and functions of the human body is also included in Scott
Foresman-Science.
Speech - The fourth graders will participate in the school speech program.
The main focus of the program is to learn and practice the art of oral
communication. Students are required to recite two speeches. The first
one consists of reading a children's storybook. The second speech is an
interpretive reading. Your child will select and read an excerpt from a novel.
Independent Reading - This is an important component for increasing the
success your child will experience in all learning. The amount a child
reads has a strong correlation with a child's success in school.
Each student will be required to read a minimum of two novels per
trimester. After reading a novel, I will give the student a simple review form to
complete. It will be the responsibility of the student to get the
material read and the review completed by the due dates in the trimester. My intent is
that your child will be reading more than the required amount.
Planner/Homework Policy - Every child was given a planner. All daily
assignments will be recorded in this planner. Work that is not
finished during the school day is expected to be taken home as homework, completed, and
returned the following day. The planner serves as a checklist and an
organizational tool to keep your child aware of finished and/or unfinished work. It also
serves as a tool for due dates and long range planning of reports and
projects.
Sometimes a child will come to class without having completed the
homework. I have a "Missing Homework" sheet that the child completes and
gives to me. This helps children, parents, and me document how often
responsibilities have not been met. Most often your child will stay in from recess to
complete the unfinished work.
Study Hall - If there is a consistent pattern of a student not
completing assignments on time, he/she will be required to attend an after school
study hall. This will be held from 3:00-3:45 on Monday, Wednesday, and
Thursday. It will be held in grades 4-8 or the art room on a rotating schedule.
Parents will be notified before their student goes to study hall. The purpose of
the study hall is to impress upon the students the value and importance of
meeting all of their responsibilities in a timely fashion. The students will also
learn that there is a serious consequence for not choosing to meet these
responsibilities.
Grading - The grading system is as follows:
A 96-100% C 76-81%
A- 94-95% C- 74-75%
B+ 92-93% D+ 72-73%
B 86-91% D 66-71%
B- 84-85% D- 64-65%
C+ 82-83% U below 64%
There will be opportunities for your child to do some self-evaluation
on various papers and projects. A great deal of individual growth takes
place when students evaluate their own efforts, and then set personal goals for
improvement.
Absent From School (Due To Illness) - When your child is not present at
school, I will write down the daily assignments. I will make every
effort to send the work home with a sibling or friend. If not, your child will
receive the assignments when he/she returns to school. The assignments that have
been written down must be completed and returned to school.
Your child will be given the same amount of time as he/she was absent
to complete the work. For example, if your child is absent from school
for two days, then he/she will have two school days to complete the work. If a child
is absent for three days, then three school days will be given to complete
the assignments.
Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) - There are three
parts to the assessment: Reading, Writing, and Math. This assessment evaluates
the students ability to think and clearly communicate a thought,
opinion, response, or simple short answer. All year long, and across the curriculum, the
students will be learning and practicing how to thoroughly read and
interpret directions and respond completely to questions. They will be learning
how to solve problems in an organized and logical fashion.
Important Dates for 2004-2005
Speech
Children's Storybook - February 10, 2004
Interpretive Reading - May 12, 2005
Book Review Due Dates
October 7, November 12, January 20, February 24,
April 21, and June 9
Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) Test Dates
April 2005
Classroom Responsibilities
Show Courtesy, Cooperation, and Respect
Give Best Effort
Be Organized and Prepared
Ask Questions
Quality Work
Best effort
Follow all Directions
Neatly and Completely Finished
Fill-in and Outline Coloring
Use Space Effectively