4th Grade

OBJECTIVE:

The goals for fourth grade students include demonstrating increased responsibility for learning, managing time well, setting appropriate achievement goals, and beginning to understand their own learning styles.

Fourth graders, as lifelong learners and problem solvers, are expected to be active and critical thinkers while working cooperatively with their peers.

DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR 4TH GRADE STUDENTS WILL LEARN:
English Language Arts	Literature: is the foundation of the reading program. In Fourth Grade, students are guided in developing knowledge and understanding literary elements. It is important for students to have a foundational understanding of the fundamentals of literature to become critical thinkers and writers. In Fourth Grade, students learn the following components of literature: genre, theme, characters, setting, plot, point of view, text structure, text features, figurative language, literary terms (alliteration, simile, metaphor, personification) Fourth Grade students will experience whole class guided lessons, interactive read-alouds, mini-lessons, and independent reading. Independent reading is a vital part of the Fourth Grade. To meet the needs and interests of every individual, we will provide a balance between shared class reading of texts, small group reading, partner reading, and independent reading of “just right” books. Explicit strategies are taught for processing a variety of fiction and nonfiction texts. Students will not only discuss their thoughts about their reading, but will also write what they think, explaining their ideas with evidence from the text. Vocabulary: Vocabulary plays a critical role in comprehension and understanding in the language arts. In Fourth Grade, the focus of vocabulary instruction is on helping students learn how to learn new words. A variety of techniques are used to ensure that students have repeated exposure to words and are presented with numerous opportunities to make connections between words and concepts in the language arts and other content areas. Spelling: The focus of spelling instruction is to guide fourth graders to become increasingly accurate and resourceful spellers. Writing: Fourth Grade students will experience different genres of writing within the writing workshop. Writing units of study will focus on narrative, nonfiction, poetry, and opinion writing. Students will learn about the characteristics of each genre by reading and analyzing mentor texts. Through whole class minilessons, small group instruction, and individual conferences, students will receive explicit instruction on essential writing strategies and skills.
Mathematics	Fourth Grade Students at Turner Intermediate will use Eureka Math. Eureka Math is meticulously coherent, with an intense focus on key concepts that layer over time, creating enduring knowledge. Students gain a complete body of math knowledge, not just a discrete set of skills. In Fourth Grade, students are: Developing understanding and fluency with multi-digit multiplication, and developing understanding of dividing to find quotients involving multi-digit dividends Developing an understanding of fraction equivalence, addition and subtraction of fractions with like denominators, and multiplication of fractions by whole numbers Understanding that geometric figures can be analyzed and classified based on their properties, such as having parallel sides, perpendicular sides, particular angle measures, and symmetry. In Grade 4, students extend their work with whole numbers. They begin with large numbers using familiar units (tens and hundreds) and develop their understanding of thousands by building knowledge of the pattern of times ten in the base ten system on the place value chart (4.NBT.1). Students apply their broadened understanding of patterns on the place value chart to compare, round, add and subtract. Fourth Grade Students are expected to be fluent with the multiplication and division tables through the 12’s. Automaticity of facts will be assessed throughout the year. Students will be regularly using an open response journal in which they will record solutions to problems. Students explain their strategies and solutions using pictures, numbers, and words. Students need to feel confident as problem solvers and to become increasingly able to describe and write about their mathematical reasoning. We want the children to see mathematics as a way of looking at everyday situations and to delight in making mathematical connections. Fourth Grade Students at Turner Intermediate also have daily access to Zearn to reinforce and reteach skills taught within the classroom setting. Imagine Math Facts is also implemented and teaches students basic math fact automaticity and fluency (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) through powerful, engaging activities.
Science	In Fourth Grade, students explore a wide variety of exciting and engaging scientific concepts. Through life, physical, earth/space, and health science studies, fourth graders learn about the world in which they live. In addition to building conceptual understanding, students in Fourth Grade learn the skills of observation, collecting, organizing, and recording information, predicting, measuring, interpreting charts and graphs, hypothesizing, generalizing, and questioning. By the end of fourth grade, students will be able to make connections between their actions as humans and the wellbeing and sustainability of the Earth. Students engage in hands-on learning through scientific inquiry investigations, using FOSS kits.
Social Studies	In Fourth Grade, students will locate and identify all states, capitals, and bodies of water, using latitude, longitude, and cardinal directions. Examples of what students should know and be able to explain are major cities, forms of government, landmarks, symbols and monuments are also identified and applied. Historical US events and economics are outlined. Students will demonstrate their understanding through research-based projects and interactive learning opportunities.