Lower School

Grade Four

Program Overview

In grade four, we work to develop both the students’ grasp of big ideas and concepts as well as their mastery of important skills. The curriculum emphasizes academic excellence and achievement as well as the goals of working cooperatively and independently, listening to and learning from others, asking questions, managing time effectively, organizing materials, and completing work effectively. In order to reinforce concepts and skills, homework is a requirement. Students are expected to read a book for 30 minutes each school night. Fourth-grade classes are paired with a first-grade buddy classroom for regular activities to foster cross-grade connections among students.

Reading and Writing

* using context clues * morphology * identifying characteristics of text * similes, metaphors, imagery, idioms * written reading responses * making inferences * summarizing * making connections text-to-self, text-to-text, text-to-world * personal narratives * note-taking and outlining * process writing * writer’s workshop * interdisciplinary writing connections *

Resources: Guiding Readers and Writers, grades 3-6, Fountas & Pinnell * teacher created materials * Type to Learn *