4th Grade Curriculum

Caring Community

We use Second Step and will have fourth-grade wide Skills Builder Workshop

Topics we cover:

• Developing empathy and showing compassion
• Listening with Attention
• Respecting Similarities and Differences
• Understanding Different Perspectives
• Working on emotional management
• Managing anxiety
• Avoid jumping to conclusion
• Solving Problems

Reading

What we do: Flexible book groups (based on skill focus), Reading Plus for fluency, Newsela for current events, daily silent reading

Goals for fourth graders:

• Continue to build vocabulary by reading more complex articles and stories
• Begin to identify themes in stories and author's purpose
• Understand how perspective and point of view affect stories

Writing

What we do: Focus on writing narrative, opinion, and research writing pieces. Will do regular book reviews and trailers.

Goals for fourth graders:

• Write more complex sentences (understand prepositional phrases, relative pronouns and adverbs, compound sentences)
• Write a hook that grabs the reader and ending that echoes the beginning
• Write a more complex and organized single paragraph in the beginning of the year, moving to a three paragraph essay by the end.
• Add reasons with examples to support research or argument

Listening and Speaking

Every Monday we have morning meeting where kids will respond to a prompt and listen to classmates. Will have presentations throughout the year and book talks. Some of these projects will be done at home.

Read Aloud

Will occur all year long. I don't like to list them because it's fun for them to be a surprise.

Math

Unit 1 - Place Value and Multi-Digit Addition and Subtraction

Unit 2 - Multidigit Multiplication

Unit 3 - Long Division

Unit 4 - Pre-algebra

Unit 5 - Measurement (Metric and Customary)

Unit 6/7 - Fractions and Decimals

Unit 8 - Geometry

There will be two levels: One “Fast Math” class (combined 4th/5th curriculum), and two regulary-paced 4th grade classes

Social Studies

The study of Colorado - people, history, geography, culture, and civics. The rich tapestry of our state will come to life through mini-projects during different time periods.

Science

Space - The dynamic movement of objects in our solar system

Energy, Electricity, & Magnetism -The precious nature of nonrenewable energies and the exciting possibilities of renewable energies, How to make electrical circuits and electromagnets

Variation and adaptation of species - a close look at Boulder's ecosystems

Growth Mindset

Yes - you can grow your brain!

​Carol Dweck developed the idea of a Growth Mindset. There are two types: Fixed and Growth. In a fixed mindset, people believe their intelligence or talents are set traits. In a growth mindset, people believe through hard work and perseverance you can improve your intelligence and talents. Importantly, failures and mistakes are seen as moments from which to improve learning, not give up. Gotta have grit. Targeted feedback (from student and parents) about skills on which to work is critical in order for them grow. This theory does not promote just praising a child for their effort, but developing a loop of mistake, feedback, open-mindedness, perseverance, and growth.

We are working on developing Growth Mindsets this year!

Meet Your Teacher

Educatinal Background/Teaching Experience:

• BS in Elementary Education; Miami of Ohio
• MA in Elementary Math Education: Miami of Ohio
• Sixth grade teacher: Two years (Ohio)
• Fourth grade teacher: Three years (Northern Virginia)
• Math interventionist: Three years (Boulder Valley Schools)
• Third grade teacher: Ten years ( Boulder Valley Schools)

Family/Personal/Hobbies:

• Married to Fenton who works for Century Link
• Three sons and as of July 22nd, one daughter-in-law!
• Love to travel, hike, bike, read, and play tennis
• Passionate about being a life long learner!