Welcome to the 2016-2017 school year. I am looking forward to working with you and your children this year. I will be teaching your children in six content areas. They include: Reading, English, Spelling, Math, History, and Science. I would like to take this opportunity to tell you what is expected of students in the fourth grade.
Math: Students are expected to know their basic facts by fourth grade. These include addition, subtraction, and multiplication. Many students struggle with this. Please help your child master his/her facts. Major concepts covered in fourth grade include: place value to 9 digits, addition and subtraction with regrouping, multiplying 2-digit x 3-digit and x 3 digit numbers, rounding to the nearest 10,000, geometry, fractions, decimals, measurement, long division, and problem solving.
Reading: In Reading, students will read stories from the series I Met You in a Story, as well as a variety of chapter books. Students will be expected to answer comprehension and vocabulary questions related to the stories they read. Students will also work in Reading Stations for some of the reading units. During these lessons, they will move between the stations and cover a number of reading, vocabulary, comprehension and language skills. Quizzes and other assessments are generally given on Thursdays or Fridays. Please read the weekly newsletter that comes home with your child each Monday, as well as the daily agenda for exact dates. Reading quizzes are made up of vocabulary and comprehension questions.
Spelling: We will cover one spelling unit each week. Students will be tested each week. They will receive the new Spelling list on Fridays. The words will be copied into their agendas each week in case the list is misplaced.
English: We will review the basic concepts of grammar. Students will apply these skills and writing strategies in a variety of writing assignments.
Science: Students will learn the science process skills (observing, classifying, measuring, controlling variables, etc.) The fourth grade curriculum includes units on living things, energy, gravity, the earth and the body.
Social Studies: Fourth grade covers a variety of topics which include map skills, America's history, the various regions and territories of our country, our government, westward expansion, and how people earned a living.
We will also have a Bible lesson at the beginning of each day using Bible Truths.
Together, we can make fourth grade a successful year for your child. Please feel free to call or make an appointment for a conference if you have any questions or concerns. I appreciate your cooperation and look forward to working with you and your child.