Goals and Expectations

Goals

Reading - 4th graders will understand that there are many purposes for reading - including "reading to learn" and reading for fun! We will be reading novels of various lengths and interests, both as a class and in small groups. We will have the opportunity to read chapter books, short stories, articles, essays, non-fiction, and poetry. 4th grade readers work to increase their rate of oral reading to a conversational pace in order to support comprehension. During the school year, students are required to read for 20 minutes or more independently each night as they work to grow in fluency and comprehension as a reader. Students will continue to take Accelerated reader quizzes often (Reading practice, Vocabulary, and Literacy Skills).

English/Language Arts - In order to develop as readers and writers it is important to understand the conventions of grammar and usage when speaking and writing. We will focus on decoding and expanding the student’s vocabulary, learning new spelling patterns, and grammar usage as part of their English studies. Students will have vocabulary and spelling quizzes every other week.  

Writing - 4th graders will be writing every day! We will be journaling, writing narratives, letters, newspaper articles, and summaries. 4th graders learn to vary their language and writing style based on the audience and purpose for writing. We'll use our spelling and grammar lessons to help proofread written work. We will extend our skills as writers, while focusing on strong topic sentences, supporting details, and conclusions.   

Science - We will be exploring water – from the clouds to groundwater through the water cycle and conservation process.  We will be looking at our ecosystem as a whole, and how we each have a special part.  We will classify plants. Later in the year we will be focusing on scientific inventions, nutrition and Health. 4th graders will be enriching our understanding of these concepts with various field trips.

Social Studies - In Social Studies students will learn about the Native Americans and early Europeans. As a class we will explore how the 13 colonies became a nation known as the United States of America. We will look at the causes and effects of major events that occurred throughout the country from the colonial times until now. Students will learn about the history of the state of New York and some of the most important events that occurred in this state. 

My Expectations

The main expectation I have for 4th grade students is that they do their best in whatever they do. There is no boundary to this expectation. Doing their best is not limited to just academic work. Of course I expect that each student puts forth his/her best effort in each assignment, project, test or quiz, however I also expect them to put forth their best effort during interactions and relationships with classmates, teachers, principal, parents, and most importantly themselves. Here are just a few ways students can be sure to meet these expectations.

• Follow the rules of proper school behavior, as explained in the student handbook.
• Display respect and kindness to others, and their property - keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself.
• Pay attention in class, participate, and stay organized throughout the school year.
• Act as a role model for younger students.