4th grade can be a big change for students. This is the first year that percentage grades are given and seen on report cards. Please see the school handbook for the breakdown of grades. Students and parents are encouraged to keep up with their progress on Skyward Family Access. That way, missing assignments are not a surprise!!

During 4th grade we really stress RESPONSIBILITY. Our students work on staying organized, using time wisely, and turning homework in on time. Speaking of homework, in 4th grade homework should take a total of 35-40 minutes. We ask that each student read nightly for 20 minutes, spend 10 minutes on Math Chains homework, and review Spelling words for 5 minutes. Any other time may be spent on unfinished class work.

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Reading

Using the Houghton Mifflin READING materials, students read thematic based fiction and non-fiction stories.  Reading for comprehension and fluency is the emphasis at the fourth grade.  We follow six strategies for understanding and finding meaning with these stories, and students learn to apply the strategies to their independent reading.  The strategies are:

• Predict/Infer - read the title, look at the illustrations - what could the story be about, what might happen next, what does the author not say directly (infer)?
• Question - the who, what, where, when, why, and how questions are great lead-in questions for recalling what is going on in the story.
• Monitor/Clarify - stop and ask if what is read makes sense.  If it doesn’t, reread, use the illustrations, or continue reading to see if any confusion clears up.
• Summarize - recap by including the character(s), the setting, the problem or situation.
• Evaluate - how do they feel about what they read, do they agree/disagree, are they learning, did the author do a good job in allowing the student to paint a picture of the characters and events while they read.
• Phonics/Decoding - try pronouncing word parts or vowel pattern sounds. 

Fourth graders also use the Accelerated Reader program to assist with their independent reading.  Each trimester students set goals for themselves (with teacher's help) in points, book level and % correct, read toward that goal, and take comprehension quizzes to show they understand what they read. 

Math

The Houghton Mifflin Math textbook is used for all fourth graders in either an accelerated paced classroom or a moderately paced classroom.  Place value, estimation, and addition & subtraction are reinforced, multiplication and division emphasized, as well as addition & subtraction of fractions and decimals, algebra, geometry, probability, and statistical concepts.

The Accelerated Math program supplements textbook instruction, allowing students to work at an individualized pace on the fourth grade math concepts.

Idaho History

Idaho History is the emphasis in our Social Studies curriculum for fourth graders.  We started the year with the wonderful hands-on program of Wagons Ho.  This really gets the students excited about studying the pioneers and pioneer life.  We then work our way through the geography and Symbols of Idaho, Indians, trappers, missionaries, and miners.  We discuss the influences of our nation’s westward movement starting with Lewis & Clark’s Corp of Discovery through the time period of the Oregon Trail.  We study Idaho’s lumbering and farming industries and end with a look at the government of Idaho in preparation for our culminating field trip to Boise in the spring.

Science

The Science units concentrated on in 4th grade are: