Fourth Grade “Back to School Night” 2014-2015 School Year
Our Team--The Fourth Grade team is made up of five homeroom teachers, 3 EAL specialists, and 2 teaching assistants:
- Rachel MacDonald 4A,
- Britt Thorpe 4B,
- Jyotsna Nanda 4C,
- Pam Thomson 4D,
- Christina Thompson 4E,
- Andrea Morris, EAL Specialist 4D
- Deanna Doherty, EAL Specialist 4B and 4C
- Ms. Mona and Ms. Valar are our teaching assistants.
- Ms. Lauren Schneider is our associate teacher
Computers in the classroom-- All grade four homerooms have a laptop for each student and 5 iPads in the room, but some students may wish to bring their own device too. If you have not done so already, please read the letter carefully (link below) from the IT department. If your son or daughter wishes to bring in his/her own technology, please print and sign the BYOT configuration form.
Room Parent/PTA Volunteer--As in the past, we will be seeking a Room Parent/PTA Volunteer for each classroom. This position is combined. As you visit your child’s homeroom on August 21st, please consider volunteering for this. There will be a sign-up sheet in the room detailing the responsibilities required. We encourage two or even three parents to share the responsibility and take turns organizing events. In grade four, we have study trips, writing celebrations, end of term celebrations, and the like.
Curriculum: The Elementary School Handbook is a valuable source of information about AISC curriculum. Below is more specific information about grade four’s curriculum.
Balanced Literacy--We follow the Columbia University Teacher’s College model and their units of study for reading and writing. Our current reading unit of study is termed "Building a Reading Life." This means that we are teaching students how to select “Just Right” books, read for long periods of time, log their reading, and begin to write and talk about reading. Other units include a look at characters in realistic fiction, historical fiction book clubs, non-fiction reading, poetry, and many readings for science and social studies. Writing workshop allows us to extend our reading into our writing and we are continually writing about our reading. These five themes allow us to build our writing life in grade four: narrative writing and building realistic characters, writing about history, poetry and its many devices, and personal opinions and the persuasive essay. Also, writing about science and/or social studies happens on most days.
Social Studies--Our social studies curriculum centers on South Asia’s geography, culture, and history; and, big picture issues that lead to problem solving and a global perspective. Our study trip with StoryTrails allows us to spend a day with a South Indian family; and, our visit to Speed Trust allows us to explore the lives of women and children in India through an organization that is providing access to job training and education. During trimester two, we move to the ancient civilization of the Indus Valley and explore the roots of modern India. Archeologists believe that the Indus Valley traded with the ancient Mesopotamians, and that city planning may have began on a large scale on the banks of the Indus River. During our final trimester, our unit titled, “Water as a Human Right” provides a platform for exploring global water issues and their impact on human rights.
Science--Fourth graders use the scientific method and hands-on materials to grow into budding scientists. This year, they will work in collaborative groups; they will observe and record their findings in a science notebook; and they will read books and articles about science throughout the year. During trimester one, our unit, Magnetism and Electricity, builds observation and collaboration skills while learning new content. During trimester two, we push our thinking about energy further while studying “Solar Energy”. We end the year with a look at the Solar System. Our study trip to the Birla Planetarium allows us to further spark our curiosity about the stars.
Math--Fourth grade is a big year for math. Students will build competency in multiplication and division facts. They will also be developing skills in geometry, fractions, decimals, and percentages. Our goal is to differentiate math teaching and learning as much as possible. With laptops available in all grade 4 classes, teachers are further able to differentiate math instruction using online tools, such as IXL and Khan Academy.
Field Trips--Fourth graders will go on four school outings that support the curriculum.
- Organic Farm: guided by Story Trails--Most Indians are still living in rural areas and therefore a visit to a farm is an essential piece of our study of “Life in India”. Approximately two hours from school, this farm is truly an organic farm and our students get to see it up close. We even get to sow some seeds!
- Speed Trust--Exposure to social issues, such as gender imbalance, is essential to understanding “Life in India and South Asia.” Speed Trust is an organization that helps single mothers learn a skill and join the workforce: they are trained as rickshaw drivers! Additionally, Speed Trust runs daycare for the children of these women. This provides a service opportunity in that grade four students get to read children’s books to these children. This is such fun!
- Hyundai Car Factory--We are lucky for the opportunity to visit this impressive facility. Chennai is an important global manufacturing city, and this trip exposes our students to another aspect of the economy of Chennai and “Life in India.” What a fantastic contrast from the organic farm visit. Hyundai employs many locals and they also have a fascinating water re-capture system.
- Birla Planetarium--In the spring, students study the solar system. Our visit to this planetarium, about thirty minutes from school, presents students with a show about the solar system and the universe.
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