FOURTH
GRADE

(6/96)Fourth grade is a transition year, and students experience changes in several areas:
- The school day is slightly longer.
- Lunchtime is later, so a nutritious snack at morning recess will give "lasting power".
- Most work is done in cursive right from the start.
- The content in Social Studies and Science is more complex.
- Reading expectations are increased.
- Good listening skills and independent work habits are encouraged.
As teachers, we're excited to be a part of such a challenging and fun experience! Please join us in the adventure.
Volunteer has a New Meaning
In 4th grade, we really encourage participation of parents with special talents. Do you have a hobby, career, or talent that you can share with our class? (Music, Art, Science, Crafts...Chauffeur). Because we encourage more independence in establishing good work habits, we will require less scheduled "in class" time for parents and will need more special projects and activities help.
Building Organizational Skills
We introduce the concept of the Daily Homework List in the fourth grade. Each child also keeps a notebook calendar. (This can be purchased at the beginning of school for $1.00 in the classroom). These two items help to keep your child focused on the specific things to be accomplished by a certain time. They also serve to communicate these same deadlines to you, the parents. We encourage you to look at the homework and calendar often to see that your child is on schedule.
The education of your child is a partnership between you, your child, and the teacher. Two way communication starts with monitoring their homework, returning signed tearoffs rpomptly, and showing genuine interest in their activities. When you have concerns and want input, please schedule an appointment with the teacher. Most importantly, set a time each day to "get involved" with your child.
Policy, procedures and other topics of interest:
Please label lunches, sweaters, jackets, and other possessions.
Absence notes should arrive at school with your child on the first day he / she returns. It should state the child's name, dates of absence, reason, and parent signature.
The Weekly Reader or Time for Kids publication is a part of our Social Stuies and Language curriculum. (Mrs. Walker and Mrs. Young use Weekly Reader and Mrs. Nelson uses Time for Kids). It was probably free when you were in the 4th grade...times have changed because it now costs $4.00 for the year. You may return this amount as cash or as a check made out in the name of your child's teacher. Please mark the envelope with your child's name and room number.
There are specific supplies your child will need throughout the school year. For consistency we have guidelines for each item which must be followed.
- Three Ring Binder; metal rings with minimum 2 inch diameter
- Regular single sheet dividers, with labels
1-Language Arts; 2-Math; 3-Social Studies; 4-Science/Health;5-Misc
- Wide ruled paper (not college rule)

Additional Supplies
- 3-4 pencils
- 3-4 erasable pens
- 1 eraser
- glue stick
- set of colored pencils
- set of colored markers
- box tissues
- small white glue container (it will be refilled at school as needed)
- small pencil sharpener (individual size with holder for shavings )- optional
- book covers (brown grovery bags make great covers and last a long time)
There are 8 math masters worksheets, two for each operation.
- To complete the test correctly in 5 minutes meets 4th grade requirements.
- To be a math masters champ, a student must have a perfect score finishing the entire paper in 2 minutes or less.
- Each student who has a perfect score gets their name on a big master list in the office. The child also receives a Monte Vista pencil from the Monte Vista Student Council.
- Please use these 8 examples of the math masters below to make copies for you student to use at home.
- Each day the student should do one drill and the corrections. At home the student should do the drill until it is finished and then mark down the time it takes to do the lesson. This does not have to be returned to school.
General
- WWW Fourth Grade Resources - Social Science, Mathematics, Language Arts, Science and Art
- BJ Pinchbeck's Educational Links! INCREDIBLE links to Math, Language Arts, Science, Reference, Computers, Social Studies, History, Physical Education, Health, etc.
California History & Geography (Social Science Curriculum)
- Incredible Mission Links for your Mission Reports. WOW!!!
- Neat Animated Map of Founding of California Missions
- Short History on each Mission
- More history on each mission
- Spanish Missions of California
- Alpha index of explorer sites for all time periods and continents
- Discoverers Web: everything you ever wanted to know about exploration
- History/Social Studies Web for K-12 teachers
- History, Culture, Economy, and Natural Resources of California - (including demographics)
- California's Coastal Mountains
- Coastal Geography
- Northern California Storms and Floods of January 1995
- GORP - U.S. National Parks and Preserves
- CVO's List of Related WWW Servers - California Geology (Volcanos and Earthquakes)
- Wild Southern California - Los Angeles Basin, Angeles National Forest, Joshua Tree National Park, etc.
- Monterey Bay Acquarium
- CTI Centre for Geography, Geology and Meteorology: Physical Geography
- Fort Point - National Historic Site
- Cabrillo National Monument NHP Home Page
- John Muir in Historical Perspective, 49th Annual California History Institute - John Muir Exhibit
- Lesson Plans K-12 - math, language arts, science, social studies, misc.
- Tahoe National Forest
- U.S. State and Local History
- R.H. Dana Elementary School
- San Francisco History
- 1906 San Francisco Earthquake
- Sacramento's History
- Blue Web'n Content Catagories - Blue Ribbon Web Pages by Curriculum Topics
- A Memoir of the California Gold Rush - Personal account
- Russian Settlement at Fort Ross, California, in the 19th Century
- The History Channel Classroom Materials
Reading, Writing & literature
Science, General
Science, Geology
Science, Oceanography
Science: Electricity, Magnetism & Energy
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Web Masters - Mary Beth Baker and Carla Walker
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