4B

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         Religion

Daily Religion class, studying each member of the Trinity, the Church, the Saints, and Social Justice; in connection with what Catholics believe, how we worship, live, and pray.  Our main focus, however, will be morality and choices.

My yearlong project: The Psalms: there place in our history, our Judaic roots, and their importance in our Liturgy and prayer.

ATRIUM: Sr. St. William will be meeting with the students once per week to discuss the Saints of the Catholic Church, their importance as examples in our lives, the Mass, and the Parables of Jesus.

Ø     Spelling

Pre-test: At the beginning of each Reading Selection, there will be 20 unit words and 5 challenge words. Misspelled words are written 5x after the Pretest for HW with one sentence written for each incorrect word. Students will usually be asked to write 10 sentences each week for homework the night before the Spelling test.
We will try our best to begin a new unit each week on Monday, which would schedule Spelling tests for Friday.

Tests: 5-7 dictated sentences, containing most Unit words; some words will be simply listed as single words. Students are graded on proper replication of sentences, correct grammar, and punctuation in addition to the unit spelling words.

Ø     Math

Multiplication, Division, Fractions, and Word Problems, comprehensive concepts, constantly reviewed nightly homework (except Friday)
Each lesson: 25-30 problems, First 10 problems will be done in class, remainder completed at home. Review sheets are given for HW the day before a test.
Computational, Comprehensive Tests are given every 5  lessons, beginning after Problem Set 10.
Fact tests are given several times each week to assess progress. They are averaged to create a test grade for the quarter.

Ø      Social Studies – Taught by Mrs. Cordero

First Quarter:  Pennsylvania History & Geography, current events and the local and national elections.
Last Three Quarters: States, Regions and Geography of the U.S.A.
All 50 States, their Capital cities, Regions and Locations, will be studied throughout the entire school year. We will make extensive use of maps, mapping skills, and research through our text.

   Reading

Comprehensive System: reading, listening skills, vocabulary, story comprehension, and writing. Workbooks go home for related assignments.

Reading Vocabulary from each story will be given for each selection from the Reader. Definitions are found in the Reading WB (blue/blue) and will be removed and placed in the Reading folder each time we begin anew story -- usually weekly. 

Book reports will be assigned from class novels are done monthly: Sept. through May. Book Report forms will not be handed out before mid-month.

Story Quizzes will be given after each story read. They will be short multiple choice quizzes with some general short essays. They will be based on story vocabulary, content, and skills presented during the week.

Unit tests are given following the completion of each Theme Unit.

Ø       Science

Four Quarterly Topics:
Weather/Climate, Classifying Living things Magnetism/Electricity, and Earth's Land.

Extensive use of Alternative Assessment: Labs, Packets, Computer component, in-class projects and Small Groups. Standard Tests will not always be given for every Chapter.
Science Fair: All students must participate. Science Fair results will be counted as a test grade.

Ø      Grammar 

Parts of speech will be the main focus of this year. Nouns, pronouns, verbs, etc. will be taught, as well as letter writing, sentence and paragraph structure. There will be a Grammar WB (blue/yellow) that will be used throughout the year, in addition to an English Reference Book used in class.

Thematic Writing Assignments will be done throughout the year. Short writing assignments will be completed weekly. At the completion of each of the six Reading units, there will be a major week-long writing assignments. They will take many forms: Creative, persuasive, descriptive, informational, etc. All writing publications will be placed in the students’ writing portfolios in class.

4B - Policy for Retests:   Everyone has an occasional bad testing day, so I offer this policy for my students.  For any Reading Vocabulary, Math Test, Religion Test, or Science written test only , I will allow a retest to be taken.  The final grade will always be the average of the original test with the subsequent retest grade.  I will only offer this option two times each quarter.  Since it is your choice, please choose wisely.  After your 2nd retest, you may not retest any additional tests for the quarter.

4B - Policy for Homework: For each subject where HW is assigned, there will be a HW grade assigned as well. Each student begins the quarter with the perfect score of 100%; however, for each HW assignment not completed or handed in late, I will deduct 5 points per day. Your HW grade will be averaged as a test grade at the end of the quarter. So, for example, if you miss 3 HW assignments in Spelling for the quarter, you will then have a test grade of an 85% averaged with your tests grades.  

Quarterly Breakdown for Grade 4B:

Religion

The Atrium Program – Taught by Sr. St. William

• Becoming Familiar with The Saints
• Becoming Familiar with The Liturgy

First Quarter:
Chapter 1 The Goodness of God
Chapter 2 God’s Gifts to Us
Chapter 3 The 10 Commandments
Chapter 4 Communicating Our Feelings Through Prayer
Chapter 5 The Dual Nature of Jesus
Chapter 6  Baptism
Chapter 7 Why Jesus Wants US to Follow the Commandments

Second Quarter:
Chapter   8 God’s Justice
Chapter   9 Guidance from the Holy Spirit
Chapter 10 The Presence of the Holy Spirit
Advent: A Time of Preparation
Christmas: The Birth of the Savior
Chapter 11 How Christians Show Love

Third Quarter:
Chapter 12 Living According to the Commandments
Chapter 13 Introduction to the Sacraments
Lent:  A Time of Reflection
Chapter 14 Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick: Sacraments of Healing

Fourth Quarter:
Chapter 15 The Commandments and Good Decisions
Holy Week: Preparing for Easter
Triduum:  The Holiest of Days
Easter:  The Resurrection of Jesus
Chapter 16 Forgiveness
Chapter 17 Vocations: Marriage and Holy Orders
Chapter 18 The Eucharist
Chapter 19 The New Commandment
Chapter 20 Deliver Us From Evil

All religion tests are directly related to the Chapter and Unit material. Although this simply measures a student’s understanding of both doctrine and dogma; my goal is to raise the students’ awareness of Jesus in their lives, and encourage the personal relationship between them and the Lord.

NDES teaches the Second Step Program as part of our curriculum. This program teaches self awareness of anger, steps towards anger management, and emotionally diffusing possibly dangerous scenarios through awareness, dialogue, and mutual respect.

Spelling

All Four Quarters:

 All quarters build on various concepts, introduced and re-introduced throughout the year.

· Patterns of word spellings
· Phonetic applications
· Suffixes, Prefixes
· Antonyms, Synonyms

Spelling is considered mostly independent work for fourth graders; this elicits responsibility for self and schoolwork.

Math

First Quarter:

Intensive review: addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication facts
Sequences
Place Value
Regrouping
Varied Word Problems
Time: Word Usage and Elapsed Time
Scales
Exponents
Square roots, Perfect squares
Multiplication Patterns

Second Quarter:

Multiplication facts
Re-introduction of Times Tables
Writing numbers, words for numerals
Money
Fractions and Mixed Numbers
Units of length
Multiplying two-digit numbers

 Third Quarter:

Division
Area and Perimeter
Division with a remainder
Multiples
Percent
Rate Word Problems
Polygons
Measurement
Fraction-of-a-Group Problems

Fourth Quarter:

Division with three-digit quotients
Line Graphs, Circle Graphs
Division Word Problems
Mixed Numbers and Improper Fractions
Place Value
Radius and Diameter
Decimals
Division by a two-digit divisor
Geometric Solids
Equivalent Fractions
Renaming Fractions

Social Studies – Taught by Mrs. Cordero

First Quarter:
Pennsylvania History and Geography

Map Skills
Boundaries
Weather and Climate
Natural Resources
Regions of PA
Native American tribes in PA
Early Settlers of PA
Swedish, Dutch, and British Influences/Contributions
The Colony of Philadelphia
The French and Indian War
Pre-Revolutionary foundations

An integrated facet on Current Events will be part of the quarterly Social Studies work.  

Introduction to regional studies: The Five Regions of the USA
The Northeast Region – 10 states

Second Quarter:

For each region:

Map Skills and labeling
Major cities, cultural contributions
Links to other regions and countries
Key Vocabulary terms
Pertinent and current information
Ties to Literature/Science
Links with important people, both current and historical

Third Quarter:

The Southeast Region
The Midwest Region

Fourth Quarter:

The Southwest Region
The West Region

All maps and skills are cumulative for the last three quarters.  By the end of the fourth quarter, students should be able to label a map of the United States with capital cities, major river systems, The Great Lakes, and our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.. Assessment varies between traditional testing, independent packets, and alternative presentations of information.

Reading/Language Arts

First Quarter:

Sequencing
Main Ideas
Details
Use of Encyclopedia and other Library Resources
Drawing Conclusions
Cause and Effect
Dialogue
Predicting Outcomes
Grammar Workshop
Writing Workshop

Second Quarter:

Predicting Outcomes
Topic Sentences
Main Sentences/Supporting Details
Cause and Effect
Classifying
Characterization
Poetry
Comparing and Contrasting
Figurative Language
Grammar Workshop
Writing Workshop

Third Quarter:

Setting
Context Clues
Drawing Conclusions
Card Catalog/Classification
Main Ideas/Details
Multi-syllabic words
Viewpoint
Order words
Plot
Grammar Workshop
Writing Workshop

Fourth Quarter:

Story Structure
Figurative Language
Connotation/Denotation
Analogies
Library/Research Skills
Fact/Opinion
Sequence
Grammar Workshop
Writing Workshop

• There will be short assessments given following each reading selection which will test vocabulary words, comprehension of main ideas/critical thinking from the selection, as well as a short writing assessment connected with the story.
• Book Reports: Students read one class novel per month from September through May.
  
• Unit Tests are administered following each Thematic Unit, reflective of the main concepts taught throughout the unit.

This grade level offers a very intensive and heavily weighted writing component as part of the Language Arts curriculum. It is believed that this will enable the students to produce comprehensive literary works using their acquired skills.

Science
First Quarter: Weather and Climate

Air: Components and Importance
Anemometers, Barometers
Air Pressure
Wind Direction
Clouds, Classification
Weather Maps
Storms, Storm Safety: Hurricanes, Tornadoes, and Electrical Storms
Lightning and Thunder
Seasons/The Hemispheres

Second Quarter:  Classifying Living Things

Variety of Life on Earth
Classifying/Classification Systems
Classification by Diversification
Differences Between Animals
Vertebrates and Invertebrates
Classifications of Plant Life
Differences Between Plants
Needs in Common
Behaviors for Survival
Animals of the Savanna
Endangered and Extinct Animals

Third Quarter:  Electricity and Magnetism

Making a Magnet
Mag-lev Trains
Properties of Magnets
Magnetic Fields
Static Electricity
Electric Current
Types of Circuits: Series and Parallel
Electric Power Plants
Electromagnets
Electrical Safety

Fourth Quarter: Earth's Land

TBA

  All assessments for Science are varied. There is a Computer Science Lab Component, used as a weekly educational tool that allows the students to investigate the current topics discussed in Science class using available technology. There is a traditional Science Lab component, which offers a weekly hands-on supplement to classes. There are hands-on packets, project work, Science Fair, as well as some traditional paper and pencil tests.

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