A Brief Summary of My Fourth Grade Curriculum

Reading – The focus is fluency and comprehension.  I use Houghton Mifflin’s Imagine Reader because it is divided by genre, and I supplement it with many trade books such as Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, The War With Grandpa, The Volcano Disaster, Encyclopedia Brown, The Journal of Augustus Pelletier, Cricket in Times Square, and My Teacher is an Alien.  The genres complement my science and social studies' curriculums.  I use the Accelerated Reader Computer Program to encourage and track independent reading.

Writing – In writing we are learning how to write interesting stories and detailed expository (explaining) essays.  These essays are expected to have several paragraphs, and to be at least two handwritten pages long.  I use the Four Square Writing Method for pre-writing and I score papers based on Six Traits + 1.

Math – Multiplication, Long Division, Fractions, Measurement, Geometry, and Problem Solving are a few of the skills fourth grade focuses on.  We use the Houghton Mifflin math series with supplementary practice pages.  The website connected with this text is a great source of support.  Where appropriate, I encourage my stronger students to try enrichment activities above grade level.

Science – We just adopted the wonderful Harcourt Science textbook series.  It is filled with lots of hands-on activities and science skills along with clearly organized information.  Favorite units include, ecosystems, mysterious powders, electricity, and space.

Social Studies – Washington state history, Lewis and Clark, and U.S. Geography are the three main topics that we study.  I use a simulation game and a musical to teach Lewis and Clark.  It allows students to use their many talents to learn about the expedition. 

Communication – Students are responsible for two oral presentations each trimester.  These presentations take various forms.  They are expected to do an oral saint report, present their landform island, participate in the Lewis and Clark musical,  present a power point that they created, and to tell a story at the Storytelling Festival.  St. Monica School also provides many other opportunities for the students to practice their communication skills.

Religion – We will be using the Faith First religion textbook to help us explore many aspects of the church including many Saints and the Beatitudes.  I also use the Second Step and Steps to Respect programs to teach social skills.