When you enter our classroom...

You are special.

You are leaders.

You are dreamers.

You are creative.

You are thinkers.

You are respected.

You are a friend.

You are loved. 

You are the reason I am here! 

WHAT TO EXPECT IN 4TH GRADE

Congratulations: You are officially a member of the “upper” grades! In 4th grade, you will learn how to think deeply about and make connections with new material, and grasp more complex concepts across all subjects. Fourth graders are encouraged to be more independent in how they learn, and depend less on their teacher's guidance. 

Reading

Much of the 4th grade reading curriculum teaches students how to analyze the books they read. Rather than just understand the plot and information given in a text, students are encouraged to think about the messages and how they relate to their own lives. They also compare texts to each other and make connections both within one text and across multiple texts.

Writing

Much of the 4th grade writing curriculum focuses on developing writing that has clarity and structure, and that uses reasons, facts, and details to support and strengthen arguments. Fourth graders are taught to organize their writing, ensure that it flows well, and group together related components. As students learn to think more deeply about concepts they are taught, they are encouraged to write in deeper ways as well. They do this by going beyond simply stating the facts — they express ideas, make connections, and provide details and emotions when appropriate.

Math

In 4th grade, students master and further their multiplication, division, and general computation skills. They learn how to solve real-life word problems using the four basic operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. By the end of the year, they are expected to do all of these operations with greater accuracy and speed. Fourth graders are also encouraged to explain how they solve problems in detailed and specific ways, both verbally and through writing.

Science

Fourth graders expand their science skills as they conduct experiments and use them to further their learning. The reading and writing work fourth graders do supports their science learning in a big way — they read nonfiction texts, take notes, research, and support their writing with facts. In fact, some 4th grade students might write informative or opinion pieces about a scientific topic they study.

Social Studies

Social studies in the 4th grade encourages students to deepen their reading, writing, and analytical skills, as well as expand knowledge and appreciation of California history. Students compare different perspectives using both primary and secondary texts. 

Second Step

Success in school is not just about reading and math. It is about knowing how to learn and how to get along with others. The second step program teaches skills for learning, empathy, emotion management, and problem solving.