Mrs. Smith's 4th Grade Classroom

MAY

LANGUAGE ARTS BLOCK
Reading

Anticipated Weekly Reading Schedule for Full School Week:

Monday: Whole Class story with vocabulary introduction, notecard making, and picture walk for prediction

Tuesday: Reading of the story (whole group, paired, small group, listening), skill introduction

Wednesday: Review of story and skill, introduction of Guided Reading story and groups

Thursday: Guided Reading Group day

Friday: Test on Whole Class story and vocabulary and Guided Reading sharing time

This year the students will become immersed with numerous non fiction guided reading stories, along with various genre related whole class books. As always, the students will be asked to take open book reading tests weekly. These tests are based on the whole class story. Vocabulary words and reading comprehension skills will be tested. Please note that study guides for the open book tests will NOT be given.

Not only is reading taught in the whole class setting, it is also taught within small groups. These groups are fluid; students can move in and out of their groups depending on their skill level. These groups will reinforce skills taught at the whole class level. Furthermore, students will get a chance to hear all about each guided reading book that they did not read through group "Jigsaw" activities.

Writing

Fourth grade writing is intense. Monthly On Demands are expected, graded, and averaged in to each child's grade. Writing workshop is taught daily and the Six Traits of Good Writing are stressed. Students will be expected to brainstorm, pre-write, draft, revise, edit, conference with the teacher and with a peer, and publish several writing pieces throughout the year. Students will learn how to write their stories using Ideas and Content, Organization, Voice, Conventions, Sentence Construction, and Word Choice.

We cover numerous types of writing. Genres include but are not limited to personal narratives/memoirs, expository, persuasive, and descriptive writing. Various types of poetry will also be introduced and explained to students.

To enhance their writing, the students will be working to add vivid verbs and descriptive adjectives to their pieces, working with Show Don't Tell, and will use figurative language throughout their pieces. Students work in pairs, as a class, and then individually when writing. They are also expected to edit their own pieces, thus showing complete understanding of the entire writing process.

Grammar / Spelling

Anticipated Spelling Homework Schedule for a Full School Week:

Monday: Abc order

Tuesday: Editing workbook page

Wednesday: Words written in sentences or in a story format.

Thursday: Study for Friday's test

Our Spelling program is taught in conjunction with our reading program. Many spelling words utilize rules within the English language. Weekly tests are given and homework is to be returned promptly. In the beginning of the year, tests are words only. By November, students will be expected to put words in sentences and punctuate them correctly. The number of written sentences will increase by one sentence per week until every word is in a sentence.

Anticipated Grammar Homework Schedule for a Full Week of School:

Tuesday: Workbook page
Wednesday: Worksheet
Thursday: Extended lesson Worksheet

The fourth grade Grammar program is quite extensive. Concepts taught range from sentence formation using subjects and predicates, to nouns, verbs, adjectives, and averbs. Mastery of grammar concepts is expected. As always, unit tests will be given to assess retention of concepts. Study guides are provided.

Math
Our textbook is online @ http://www.eduplace.com/math/mw/g_4.html

ALL FOURTH GRADERS ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE MASTERED THEIR BASIC MULTIPLICATION FACTS BEFORE ENTERING FOURTH GRADE.

PLEASE NOTE THAT HOMEWORK IN MATHEMATICS WILL BE GIVEN ALMOST NIGHTLY. THE ONLY EXCEPTIONS MAY BE ON TEST NIGHTS AND HOLIDAYS.

The comprehensive math program for fourth grade is extensive and important. Students will be working on fully understanding there are numerous ways for problems to be solved. Students will be writing about their mathematical thinking and sharing their ideas with others. The pace of the math program is very fast, yet please understand that there is always extra time for those who need it to revisit skills, either through the ASAP program or during recess.

Generally, skills covered in fourth grade are basic and multiple step computation, geometry, algebra, area and perimeter, problem solving, fractions and decimals, and probability. Tests and quizzes are given regularly.

Math groups are utilized to help all levels. Different homework activities may be assigned and enrichment work will be given to those who compact out of certain skills. Pretests are used to determine groupings. Games, songs, and centers are implemented to help enhance and recall skills whenever possible.

Science

We use many hands on activities and work in groups quite a bit in Science. Students are expected to employ the Scientific Method when experimenting. Many websites are viewed to enhance the learning process and the SmartBoard is also used to allow students interaction with concepts. Topics covered are Ecosystems, Body Systems, The Rock Cycle and Electromagnetism. We also have an extensive research based project to start off the year on Owls. The computer laboratory is helpful for research and creation of projects.

Social Studies

REGIONS AND LANDFORM QUIZ ON FRIDAY, MAY 18TH

The Social Studies program begins with a review of Continents and Oceans. We then move on to a quick review of New Jersey's regions and its symbols. Afterward, we move right in to US History. The students will become familiar with the American Revolution, the Civil War, Immigration, Women's Suffrage, the Civil Rights Movement, and several other topics. Tests will be given in numerous formats ranging from essay to short answer to multiple choice and true or false. These tests can be extensive and quite difficult. Parental assistance in study skills is essential in Social Studies. Once again, study guides will be provided.