Teacher:
Mrs. Sarah Siedenstrang
Fourth Grade Class Summary
Language Arts:
The Fourth Grade curriculum expands upon third grade reading skills in
areas such as punctuation, typographic clues, word structure, word organization,
sentence structure, context clues, sequence of events, drawing conclusions,
predicting outcomes, fantasy and reality, cause and effect, characterization,
topic/main idea and details, comparing and contrasting, summarizing, author’s
purpose, fact and opinion, important and unimportant details, identifying
parts of a book, using a dictionary, reading content materials, reading graphs
and charts, using reference sources, figurative language, elements of story,
point of view, mood and tone, genres, listening, speaking and writing.
Fourth Grade English also strives to enhance and reinforce learning to write a paragraph, improving a paragraph, exploring writing, writing exploration, letter writing, speaking and listening skills, and library and dictionary skills.
Although handwriting is not a formal subject of Fourth Grade,
the class practices handwriting during the first nine weeks in order to reinforces
skills learned in Third Grade.
Texts:
Reading Traditions (Houghton Mifflin 2006)
Webster’s Elementary Dictionary (McDougal Littell & Co.)
Supplemental Materials:
English Workbook Plus (Houghton Mifflin 1998)
English Workbook (Houghton Mifflin 1998)
Houghton Mifflin Spelling and Vocabulary
Series workbooks, English workbook, library books, paperback books
Videos, charts, and games
“Book-It” program
Accelerated Reader program.
Methods:
Reading is taught each day from a hardback text and a workbook. Each day,
the teacher reads orally from an appropriate novel for the grade level. The
class uses the library for half an hour one day each week. The school participates
in the Accelerated Reader program in which the students’ reading level
is tested and they are encouraged to read books on their reading level. The
students take computerized tests on the books they have read. The class also
participates in the “Book-It” program. On Mondays, spelling words
are written down. Students are given a pre-test on Thursday and a test on
Friday for those who do not make an acceptable on the pre-test. Language is
taught using a hardback text and a workbook. The students also watch videos
relating to language arts, write letters to authors, write thank-you notes,
and are encouraged to enter poetry and writing contests.
Mathematics:
Fourth Grade Math continues to cover number sense; value and patterns;
addition and subtraction; time, data and graphs; probability; multiplying;
dividing; geometry; fractions; decimals; metric and customary measurement;
finding; perimeter, area, and volume.
Text:
University of Chicago Everyday Mathematics Level 4, Volume 1& 2
Supplemental Materials:
Series workbook, run-off worksheets, manipulatives, calculators, Math Safari,
flash cards, games, computer disks, & transparencies.
Methods:
Math is taught each day using the hardback text, worksheets, workbooks –
supplemented by computer games such as Math Safari, calculators, and math
manipulatives. This is accomplished through large group, small group and individualized
instruction.
Social Studies:
The History of Florida is taught in the Fourth Grade. Included throughout
the year are various lessons on map skills, study skills, as well as other
geography in relation to the world. Films and field trips are used as enrichment.
Texts:
Harcourt Brace Social Studies: Florida (Harcourt Brace 2002)
Supplemental Materials:
Map Skills Handbook
Worksheets, globes, maps,
Geosafari, Carmen Sandiego computer program
Field trips, videos, audiotapes
Methods:
In addition to various textbooks, workbooks, and worksheets, the Fourth Grade
class listens to guest speakers, watches appropriate historical films and
documentaries, uses globes, maps, computer programs and tapes. The class will
take several social studies oriented field trips throughout the year in order
to associate a concept with a location, build deeper level understanding an
build intrinsic motivation.
Science:
The class engages in hands-on activities in order to develop scientific
thinking skills and utilize scientific processes. The students learn how to
observe, classify, infer, predict, communicate, measure, interpret data, control
variables, hypothesize, define and formulate operational models.
Texts:
A Beka Science Series Investigating God’s Word Level 5
Supplemental Materials:
Series workbook, teacher resource book, teacher anthology with classroom library
lessons, trade books, audio tapes, activity cards, posters, materials kits
for experiments, videos, field trips, guest speakers, live specimens (worms,
fish, flies, ants, etc.) and microscopes.
Methods:
The science curriculum uses the textbook chapters as an outline, but lessons
depend upon use of workbooks, demonstrations, experiments, guest speakers,
videos and personal research in the library. Some years the class participates
in science related field trips. The science curriculum consists of five units
of study with a special presentation on health.
Health:
Texts:
Enjoying Good Health, A Beka Book
Special materials and presentations are given in the following
areas: dental health, healthy eating and lifestyles, germs and germ control,
and alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse.
Bible:
In grades three through five students are exposed to the entire Bible –
each taking a third of the books. Students memorize text, learn the most salient
biblical stories and determine where each story belongs chronologically. Central
to the curriculum is the question, “What does God expect of His people?”
Texts:
Holy Bible (New King James Version)
Egermeier’s Bible Story Book
Supplemental Materials:
The materials used are: study sheets, review questions, charts, and tests.
Methods:
The class reads the Bible and Bible reference books individually and as a
class. The teacher makes use of theatrical narration of Biblical stories in
colloquial English, open discussions, review questions, and formal and informal
assessments. One verse is memorized each week and tested along with Spelling.