THE DAY AND THE LIFE OF 4th GRADERS
WELCOME TO 4th grade! We have an exciting learning adventure planned for the year ahead. We look forward to working with you to make this a successful year for everyone.
Curriculum Goals
Following is a brief outline of this year’s topics aligned with District curriculum guidelines and MN State Standards:
Language Arts
Reading Mondo based shared reading curriculum
Textbook: EveryDay Math
Science
Celebrating Diversity
Families All Matter
Families All Matter is an interdisciplinary curriculum that focuses on families. There are ten themes in this curriculum are:
1) Famillies Are Different
2) Race/Ethnicity
3) Divorce/Break Ups
4) Lesbian and Gay Family Members
5) Socioeconomics
6) Immigration
7) Adoption
8) Disability
9) Aging
10) Religion
Within this unit, students will listen to books read by parent and family volunteers. The volunteers introduce the story, read the story, lead a short discussion, and share ideas for journaling. We are planning on having our Families All Matter Curriculum during the month of May.
EXTRA! EXTRA!
The 4th Grade Opera
Every year one of the most popular residencies in our ARTS program is the 4th Grade Opera Residency! During this 3-week residency 4th graders create an original opera. We work together as a grade level in the morning. YES…this takes the place of our regular morning classes. Our Linwood Drama teacher, Mr. Williams is our director. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to work with a “real life composer”. Stephen Houtz is that person who helps us write our songs. Other specialists, like Mrs. Kroetsch, our Linwood music teacher, and Dani Friedman, our dance teacher, will collaborate with us to bring the arts to life in our production.
This year our plans are to be in our Opera Residency by the end of January. The exact dates are not known, but we’ll let you know as soon as we finalize them. We invite you to join us during our Opera Residency. We especially count on our parents to help us with sets and costumes!
There isn’t a more exciting time in 4th grade. We literally start out with a blank slate and by the end of the 3 weeks, we have a story, usually 10 or more songs, costumes, sets, and an experience that will stay with us for a life-time. Our opening performance will be on the final Thursday evening. All 4th graders are expected to be there. We also perform the following day at the Friday Gathering. Stay tuned for more information on our opera!
THE Ins and Outs of OUR DAY
Homework
The expectation is that students are working on at least 20 minutes of reading homework each night and completing a math Study Link daily (Monday-Thursday). If for some reason they do not have a Study Link they should be practicing their multiplication facts for about 20 minutes to become secure in these facts. In addition, on Mondays students will receive a list of spelling words that focus on the skills of the week.
Monroe uses the Responsive Classroom approach to foster and develop positive social skills. Developed by teachers, this approach consists of practical strategies for bringing together social and academic learning throughout the school day. The components of RC include: morning meeting, rules and logical consequences, guided discovery, academic choice, classroom organization, and connecting with families.
Getting Along…
Golden Rule:
Treat others how you want to be treated
*Respect each other
*Listen when someone is talking
*Cooperate with others
Study Skills…
*Use time appropriately
*Give your best effort
*Complete assignments on time
Consequences…
*Take A Break
*Take A Break Social Conference with student/teacher
*Buddy classroom Take A Break
*Focus room
Conference
*Administrative conference
*Parent contact
Fourth Grade
SCHEDULES
For Ms. Willard
9:30-9:50 Morning Meeting 9:50- 11:00 Math
11:00-11:35 Skills: Spelling, Vocabulary, and Dictionary Work
11:35-12:15 Lunch/Recess/Restroom
12:15-1:05 Reading
1:05-2:00 Specialists (Dance, Drama, Art, Music)
2:00- 3:15 Reading
3:15-3:50 Intervention and Enrichment
3:50-3:55 Closing Meeting
3:55-4:00 Lockers and Dismissal
For Mrs. Young
For Mrs. Modelli
9:30-9:50 Morning Meeting 9:50- 11:00 Reading
2:00- 3:15 math
COMMUNITCATION IS KEY TO SUCCESS
Contact Information
Please call us at school, (651) 293-8690
Andrea Willard ext. 1403
Sue Young ext. 140
Sarah Hernandez – ELL ext.1405
Tanya Schuh-Modelli ext. 1406
Or e-mail us:
andrea.willard@spps.org
susan.m.young@spps.org
tanya.schuh-modelli@spps.org
Sarah.hernandez@spps.org
6 Folders with brads 3 spiral notebooks 72 pkg of pencils 2 glue sticks scissors box colored pencils box markers box crayons 2 highlighters 2-3 boxes tissues 1 pkg notebook paper 4 pk dry-erase markers Composition notebook (writer's notebook)