Skills Acquired During 4th Grade
Homework


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 your 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, your 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
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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. You can help your 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. For example, she may be asked to select a historical figure - a former president for a lesson on elections, or Leonardo da Vinci for a unit on artists - to research over a period of time and later present to the class.