Fourth Grade

In 4th grade students are applying the skills they acquired in the primary grades. They are now reading for information versus to learn to read. They are researching and writing longer reports. They are using math in more advanced and integrated ways. They are learning organizational, study and test taking skills.

Science

All intermediate students study Food Science, Circuits and Pathways, and Eco-Systems.  All Science curriculum is provided by the National Science Foundation.

Math

Fourth-grade math students use the TERC Math Curriculum.  The curriculum uses a constructivist based-approach to math.  Embedded in TERC is a big push to write about math. This process helps students solidify the concepts they are learning. This also prepares them for the writing that is required in several sections of the WASL.

Reading

Direct instruction is provided in small groups within the classroom. Students then use these skills on independent projects.

Weekly homework is given to all students with a minimum of 20 minutes of reading daily.

Along with teaching to the standards, Ms. Dunker implements group work in many areas. Students re-group their desks weekly to work with all the students in the class. They learn to value each student in the room. There is a weekly class meeting where students set the agenda and work on conflict resolution. Any student who is having a problem with someone else can bring it to these meetings. The principles from the Second Step program are used.

Kinder Buddies is a program that matches a 4th grader with a kindergartener on the first day of school. For the first few weeks the kinder buddies have lunch together and get escorted to recess. Later in the year the kindergarteners and fourth graders see each other weekly for a variety of activities.