What are we learning?

Welcome to Our First Classroom Update!

It was so wonderful meeting so many of you at Curriculum Night last week! We enjoyed the opportunity to share a little bit about our classroom and the exciting year ahead. If you weren’t able to join us, or if you’d like to revisit the information we shared, you can find our class brochure and presentation here.

The 4th graders had a busy and productive first full week! They are settling into our classroom routines, getting to know their classmates, and learning what it means to be a 4th grader. We also completed many of the beginning-of-year assessments we use to help us understand each student’s strengths and areas for growth. Now that we have those pieces in place, we are excited to jump into our curriculum this week!

Here’s a peek at what we’ll be learning:

Arts & Letters
We are so excited to begin our new Arts & Letters reading program! Mrs. Duncan and I had the opportunity to pilot the program last year, and we are thrilled to continue with it this year. Our first unit will focus on informational writing and will give students opportunities to read, learn, and write about interesting topics. If you’d like to learn more about the program, here is a Family Welcome Letter with additional information.

Math
We began our first math module last week, focusing on place value. This year, students will experience math through a workshop model, which allows us to provide more individualized instruction while students work in small groups and independently. We love this approach because it gives us opportunities to meet each learner where they are and provide the support or challenge they need.

 Word Study
This week, students will begin our 4th-grade word study program, Words Their Way. This program allows us to focus on the individual needs of each speller while helping students become more confident with words and spelling patterns. Students will also explore the parts of words, including root words, prefixes, and suffixes.

Social Studies
Get ready to explore New York State! Our first social studies unit will focus on New York State geography. Students will learn about the regions, landforms, waterways, and other geographic features that make our state unique.

We are off to a wonderful start, and we are looking forward to all that this year has in store! Thank you for your support as we begin this journey together. As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.