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Fourth Grade

 
4th gradeWelcome to Fourth Grade
This is a year of change for the energetic 9 year old. Now she’s full of opinions — and even a little attitude — and may not be as compliant at home as before. Not surprisingly, her schoolwork will become more challenging as teachers begin to prepare for the transition to middle school. This year, more than ever, your child will need to focus on honing the organizational skills necessary to stay on top of her increasing workload.
Skills Required at the Beginning of 4th Grade
The child’s teacher will expect her to do the following:
Reading
  • Read grade-level chapter books that can be either applied to school or just for fun
  • Check out books at the library for personal enjoyment
  • Use reference books, such as a dictionary or thesaurus, to improve writing
  • Look up information in a book by using a table of contents, glossary, or index
Writing and Verbal Communication
  • Write in cursive script (longhand) instead of printing, when requested
  • Write in paragraph form, using transitions
  • Use correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar (e.g. verb tenses must agree in sentences)
  • Understand the writing process: pre-write, outline, draft, revise, edit, and polish
  • Complete assignments in a variety of writing styles, including informative, creative, and persuasive
  • Follow written instructions independently
  • Listen actively to a speaker in the classroom, whether that is the teacher or a fellow student
  • Answer questions in complete sentences (for example, "I like to play on the monkey bars more than playing kickball because I like to climb," as opposed to "Because I like to climb," or simply "Because.")
Math
  • Add and subtract numbers to 10,000
  • Have the multiplication table memorized
  • Be able to multiply and divide multi-digit numbers by a single-digit number
  • Identify written and spoken numbers up to 100,000
  • Estimate and measure length and height
  • Analyze and graph data
  • Explain in words how a math problem was solved
  • Tell time to the nearest minute
  • Relate number problems to everyday situations (e.g. using a budget to plan a party)
Science
  • Understand the basics of scientific discovery: How to form a hypothesis and conduct an experiment, then observe, measure, and record results
  • Retain facts from previous year’s study, such as names and identifying characteristics of the planets
  • Understand life and water cycles; rudimentary knowledge of weather
History and Social Studies
  • Read world maps; be able to find locations on the globe
  • Know the 50 states and their capitals
  • Retain history facts from previous year
It is important that your child be able to read at grade level and have mastery of basic math skills. At this stage, children are expected to be reading to learn, not learning to read. In addition, math instruction becomes more difficult. If the child has trouble in either of these areas, you may want to consider consulting with a tutor or other educational specialist to help strengthen these skills.

Skills Acquired During 4th Grade
There is definitely a faster pace for teaching in the 4th grade, which will be both exciting and challenging for the child. It's not unusual for lessons in social studies, math, reading, and science to be taught in 30- to 45-minute blocks. In addition, the child’s teacher will likely teach “across the curriculum,” using reading, writing, and math to enhance lessons in other academic subjects. Your child will be expected to accomplish the following over the course of the school year:

Reading
  • Read a newspaper or grade-level book
  • Produce projects demonstrating reading comprehension (for example, a book report, poster, diorama, skit, mobile, or book jacket)
  • Differentiate between fiction and nonfiction
  • Ask and answer critical questions about characters and plot that explore similarities, contrasts, and hypothetical scenarios
  • Integrate reading skills with science, social studies, and math
  • Read aloud in order to improve vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency
Writing and Verbal Communication
  • Refine cursive handwriting (longhand)
  • Take notes from reference materials and organize them
  • Complete longer research assignments, ranging from 3 to 4 pages, supplemented by illustrations (such as graphs or pictures) and at least three outside sources (for example, books, newspapers, and encyclopedias)
  • Use higher-level vocabulary words, including synonyms and antonyms
  • Write for a purpose: to explain, to describe, to persuade, to entertain, to list, to express an opinion, etc.
  • Polish written assignments through revision; correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling mistakes
  • Participate in group or team projects
  • Present oral reports
Math
  • Practice long division with double-digit divisors
  • Practice multiplication with two- and three-digit numbers
  • Begin work with fractions and decimals
  • Calculate perimeter and averages
  • Use a calculator
  • Know when and how to incorporate various mathematical operations during problem solving
  • Understand that there is more than one way to solve a math problem
  • Become more proficient at “mental math” (doing calculations in her head)
Science
  • Explore why something happens — for example, why do planets revolve around the sun, or why do plants grow when they are watered?
  • Analyze, predict, observe, and think scientifically
  • Explain how an answer to a scientific question is found
History and Social Studies
  • Know home state history, from learning the state motto to understanding what life was like for the state’s founding settlers
  • Identify branches of the U.S. government
  • Know key events and dates studied in American history
  • Be proficient in United States geography
  • Read nonfiction books, such as biographies of historical figures, to enhance knowledge
Other Subjects
  • Maintain healthy habits developed in Health and Physical Education; learn about peer pressure
  • Learn history and theory in Fine Arts
  • Your child may begin study of a Foreign Language (varies by school district): vocabulary, reading, and pronunciation as well as the history, culture, and traditions of that particular country

    Homework
    Expect your child to spend at least 45 to 60 minutes per night on homework. Help her continue the routine she established in previous grades by allocating a quiet place in the house for her to study. There will likely be assigned readings from textbooks, geared to supplement lessons taught in class. Furthermore, there is much more emphasis on developing the ability to analyze and compare. We can help the child by encouraging her to go beyond “who” and “what” questions to examine "why" and "how." Anticipate more long-term projects and reports this year.

Last Modified on May 4, 2006