Curriculum at a Glance
4th Grade Curriculum At A Glance Below is a quick description of the curriculum fourth graders will encounter this year. If you would like a more detailed view of the curriculum, please visit the NC Department of Public Instruction.
*This is our 2nd year of the Common Core Standards
English Language Arts (ELA)
The Daily 5 and CAFE will be used to provide ELA instruction. The CAFE framework includes goal-setting , posting of goals, whole-class instruction based on ELA curriculum, small group instruction based on groups of students with similar goals, and one on one conferring to check in on student goals. Your child will participate in multiple mini-lessons each day. Between each lesson your child will participate in Daily 5: read to self, read to someone, work on writing, word work, or computer. Students receive the daily instruction and individual teacher attention needed to be successful. This is the second year HES will be implementing these frameworks and I am a huge fan :)
Reading
After a whole-class CAFE mini-lesson, your child will read to self during daily 5 incorporating the skills learned in the lesson as well as working on their individual goal. Individual and small group conferences will be held based on the needs of each student. Since students are on different reading levels, most assignments will be differentiated. This ensures that all students get exactly what they need to become better readers. A general outline of this year's reading instruction is as follows:
Writing
After a whole-class CAFE mini-lesson, your child will work on writing during daily 5. During Work on Writing, your child will free write in a writing journal. Your child may write many types of genres and may choose to turn one of the seeds into a draft throughout the year. In addition to Work on Writing, we will do writer's workshop. In writer's workshop, your child will participate in a whole-class mini lesson followed by time to write incorporating the skills learned in the lesson. Individual and small group conferences will be held based on the needs of each student. As well as writing during the ELA block, your child will be writing in all other curriculum areas. A general outline of this year's writing instruction is:
Language
Language instruction in fourth grade focuses on vocabulary and grammar. Your child will not be given spelling lists and tests this year. While we understand this may be a comfort lost to some parents, (and others may shout, "hooray!" ;) at this age it is most important for your child to be able to define unknown words to become better readers and writers. Your child will be expected to learn and apply new vocabulary in the correct context. This includes using context to define multiple-meaning words. Also, your child will be learning a lot of new grammar tools and terms this year. In an effort to help your child build language skills, the administration has graciously offered to provide Wordly Wise to the fourth grade team!
Mathematics
Fourth grade math builds on the skills learned in previous grade levels as well as teaches new concepts students will need in future grade levels. The majority of our math instruction is based on the WCPSS textbook although this material will be supplemented with technology, additional lessons, and activities as necessary. A general outline of this year's math instruction is:
Science & Social Studies
Due to time, your child will receive only one of these subjects every three weeks. On a three-week rotating basis, our class will move from teacher to teacher within the 4th grade team for science/ss instruction throughout the year. We find this strategy to be extremely beneficial not only to the students, but also as teachers to get to know each fourth grade student. Your child will have me teach them during one of the three week sessions.
Science
We will focus on one six-week unit per quarter. Each unit will be split into two three-week rotations. Students will take notes and perform many hands-on experiments during our science time. They will also have a science special once a week that supports the material learned in class. The four six-week units taught this year are:
Social Studies
The SS curriculum is based around the state of North Carolina. We will focus on one three-week unit per quarter. We will do projects and activities that integrate social studies and language arts. The four three-week units taught this year are:
*This is our 2nd year of the Common Core Standards
English Language Arts (ELA)
The Daily 5 and CAFE will be used to provide ELA instruction. The CAFE framework includes goal-setting , posting of goals, whole-class instruction based on ELA curriculum, small group instruction based on groups of students with similar goals, and one on one conferring to check in on student goals. Your child will participate in multiple mini-lessons each day. Between each lesson your child will participate in Daily 5: read to self, read to someone, work on writing, word work, or computer. Students receive the daily instruction and individual teacher attention needed to be successful. This is the second year HES will be implementing these frameworks and I am a huge fan :)
Reading
After a whole-class CAFE mini-lesson, your child will read to self during daily 5 incorporating the skills learned in the lesson as well as working on their individual goal. Individual and small group conferences will be held based on the needs of each student. Since students are on different reading levels, most assignments will be differentiated. This ensures that all students get exactly what they need to become better readers. A general outline of this year's reading instruction is as follows:
- Quarter 1: taking charge as a reader, understanding fiction and characters
- Quarter 2: informational writing, research reports
- Quarter 3: poems, poetry, and prose; historical fiction, social issues
- Quarter 4: test prep as a genre, research reports (#2)
Writing
After a whole-class CAFE mini-lesson, your child will work on writing during daily 5. During Work on Writing, your child will free write in a writing journal. Your child may write many types of genres and may choose to turn one of the seeds into a draft throughout the year. In addition to Work on Writing, we will do writer's workshop. In writer's workshop, your child will participate in a whole-class mini lesson followed by time to write incorporating the skills learned in the lesson. Individual and small group conferences will be held based on the needs of each student. As well as writing during the ELA block, your child will be writing in all other curriculum areas. A general outline of this year's writing instruction is:
- Quarter 1: personal narratives, realistic fiction
- Quarter 2: informational writing, research report
- Quarter 3: opinion writing
- Quarter 4: persuasive writing, research report (#2)
Language
Language instruction in fourth grade focuses on vocabulary and grammar. Your child will not be given spelling lists and tests this year. While we understand this may be a comfort lost to some parents, (and others may shout, "hooray!" ;) at this age it is most important for your child to be able to define unknown words to become better readers and writers. Your child will be expected to learn and apply new vocabulary in the correct context. This includes using context to define multiple-meaning words. Also, your child will be learning a lot of new grammar tools and terms this year. In an effort to help your child build language skills, the administration has graciously offered to provide Wordly Wise to the fourth grade team!
Mathematics
Fourth grade math builds on the skills learned in previous grade levels as well as teaches new concepts students will need in future grade levels. The majority of our math instruction is based on the WCPSS textbook although this material will be supplemented with technology, additional lessons, and activities as necessary. A general outline of this year's math instruction is:
- Quarter 1: place value, addition & subtraction, multiplication
- Quarter 2: division, geometry, area & perimeter
- Quarter 3: functions & patterns, fractions
- Quarter 4: decimals, measurement
Science & Social Studies
Due to time, your child will receive only one of these subjects every three weeks. On a three-week rotating basis, our class will move from teacher to teacher within the 4th grade team for science/ss instruction throughout the year. We find this strategy to be extremely beneficial not only to the students, but also as teachers to get to know each fourth grade student. Your child will have me teach them during one of the three week sessions.
Science
We will focus on one six-week unit per quarter. Each unit will be split into two three-week rotations. Students will take notes and perform many hands-on experiments during our science time. They will also have a science special once a week that supports the material learned in class. The four six-week units taught this year are:
- Quarter 1: electricity & magnetism
- Quarter 2: rocks & minerals
- Quarter 3: landforms
- Quarter 4: animal studies & nutrition
Social Studies
The SS curriculum is based around the state of North Carolina. We will focus on one three-week unit per quarter. We will do projects and activities that integrate social studies and language arts. The four three-week units taught this year are:
- Quarter 1: NC History
- Quarter 2: NC Government
- Quarter 3: NC Economy
- Quarter 4: NC Culture, Geography, and Environmental Literacy