4th Grade

 

Fourth Grade

The fourth grade curriculum provides an integrated curriculum that equips students with tools to help them become engaged, reflective, learners and confident, versatile problem solvers.  Our program promotes students’ higher-order thinking and provides explicit in-depth instruction.  This is a comprehensive program that provides the materials and support to reach a variety of learning styles. The curriculum and instruction at this grade level promotes an excitement for learning, supports a confident use of acquired knowledge, and provides students with opportunities to respond in ways that demonstrate comprehension, interpretation, and appreciation.

 

English: 
Students work daily out of the English Houghton Mifflin Textbook and Workbook Plus. 

• The reteaching Workbook is used for reinforcement and reteaching when needed.
• Unit tests are administered at the conclusion of each unit. 
• Skills:  Grammar- usage and mechanics, writing-listening, speaking, and viewing.

Spelling:
The Zaner-Bloser Spelling Connections Curriculum provides a variety of word study strategies and activities for students as well as proofreading checklists and modality checklists.

• Spelling words introduced every Monday.
• Pretest is given on Wednesday. 
• Post test on Friday.
• Workbook pages in the Spelling Connections Workbook completed daily to practice and reinforce spelling skills.
• Students type their spelling words in context sentences in computer class to practice spelling words. 
• Twenty words are assigned for study each week

Math:
Progress in Mathematics  is a student-centered program that is carefully sequenced to help students develop the skills that they need to succeed in math. 

• Program incorporates problem solving throughout the textbook, as well as take home activities and daily computation practice.
• Skills taught: numeration, whole number operations, fractions, decimals, geometry, measurement, statistics, and probability.
• Student tests are provided and administered after the completion of each chapter.

Reading: 
The Harcourt Pathways to Adventure Reading Curriculum consists of a comprehensive textbook and workbook.

• Skills reinforced in this series include:  Vocabulary Skills, Graphic Sources, Summarizing, Synthesizing, Prefixes, Suffixes, Character Development, Synonyms, Antonyms, Comparing and Contrasting, Library/Media Center Skills, Cause and Effect, “Silent” Letters, Mood/Tone, Predicting Outcomes, Author’s Purpose, Classifying, Categorizing, and Grammar Skills.

• To improve and strengthen reading and writing skills:  , students use the:
  • WRAP Writing Program
  • Daybook of Crucial Reading and Writing
  • Vocabulary Connections
  • Monthly Book Reports  
  • Accelerated Library Reading Program

Social Studies:
 Harcourt Horizons Florida Textbook Series includes:

• Florida Edition Technology Overview
• Florida Reading Support and Tests
• Preparation/Assessment Materials
• United States History but focuses mainly on Florida History. 
• Overnight fieldtrip to St. Augustine to see firsthand places that have been studied throughout the curriculum.

Handwriting:  

• Cursive writing and review of manuscript writing.

Technology:

• Mavis Beacon Keyboarding Curriculum and WRAP Writing Program as well as production of Powerpoint, Publisher, and Word documents.

Spanish:  

• Students are prepared to meet national Standards.
• Varieties of strategies are set in place for developing listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.
• Vocabulary, grammar, and articulation are targeted through Rosetta Stone program.

Sacred Studies:
One day a week of instructional time.  Overreaching theme is a love of God, self, and others through:

• Learning Jesus’ summary of the Law and that God is Love.
• Learning that prayer is talking and listening to God.
• Exploration of various Bible stories.
• Writing Offertories (favorite Bible verse) for Chapel.
• Peace Education – review of I-Care Rules, mediation, and conflict resolution.
• Practice service to others.

Physical Education:

Physical Education will teach the age appropriate fundamentals of several sports; how to properly catch and throw a ball and how to hit a ball off a Tee in T-ball; how to catch and run with an irregular shaped ball in flag football; how to dribble and shoot a basketball; how to manipulate and shoot a ball using the feet in soccer; how to control and shoot a puck with a stick in hockey; how to hit a ball off a tee and control a put in golf; how to hit and return a ball in tennis; how to field and throw a ball in lacrosse; and proper running technique in track. Sports taught throughout the year include:

• Volleyball
• Flag Football
• Soccer
• Basketball
• Hockey
• Golf
• Lacrosse
• T-ball
• Tennis

Music:

• Music taught once a week. 
• Writing music
• Learning the basics of music mechanics
• Reading music
• Sight singing
• Singing on pitch and part/harmony singing from choral music
• Key signatures re-introduced
• Review of all areas covered relating to musical information from previous years
• Music Appreciation of classical music and music history introductions
• Singing etiquette
• Performance opportunities – two big concerts per year
• Broadway music and choreography in the spring and choral concert at Christmas
• Completions at the board

Art:

• Fourth graders will express themselves through art by honing their skills and techniques with a variety of art materials. 
• Students will start to recognize famous works and styles of art.
• Students will develop an art vocabulary.