4th Grade
Fourth grade is a year to grow and become independent and responsible. Students are more accountable for the completion of homework and classwork. The fourth grade teachers feel this is the perfect grade to instill the values and principles that will last a lifetime – academically, spiritually, and socially.
Religion classes focus on learning about the Rosary, the Beatitudes and the Commandments. Major units concentrate on God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Church, and Social Justice. These studies link to daily living experiences.
Reading emphasizes comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary. Students utilize a basic reader and several novel units. The fourth grade teachers model many different reading strategies to help the students comprehend the material.
Grammar and creative writing are stressed in English. Fourth grade focuses on grammar, usage, and mechanics. The students express themselves through creative writing. Teachers integrate the 6 traits of Writing (Voice, Sentence Fluency, Organization, Word Choice, Ideas, and Conventions) throughout their writing lessons.
Math class masters addition and subtraction of large numbers, fractions, double digit multiplication & division, decimals and fractions. Fluency for computation is stressed for all 4 basic operations.
Science in fourth grade focuses on the engineering design process, plant and animal structure and function, energy and communication, and how landforms are created. The students participate in hands-on activities and labs to investigate, to make hypotheses, to test ideas, and to draw conclusions. In Health, fourth graders learn about how they need to make informed decisions about health. The topics include needs and feelings, families, health and fitness, diseases, staying safe, medicines, and drugs and health.
Fourth grade Social Studies revolves around the study of the regions of the United States and Ohio history. Students focus on geography, climate, and natural resources.
The fourth grade uses a systematic, developmentally appropriate word study approach to vocabulary. This approach will focus on roots, prefixes, suffixes, and expanding vocabulary in written and spoken word.
Students have class once each week for music, art, library, computer lab, and Spanish. PE class is taught twice each week. Students also have the option to attend orchestra twice a week.
Rocket Launch, STEM Projects, Guest Speakers, Station of the Cross Enactment, Field Trips, Mary Retreat, Christmas Program, MUSE, and Field Day