LANGUAGE ARTS
Language Arts includes grammar, mechanics and usage, language and reasoning, writing and speaking. Students will complete a variety of writing samples through the writing process - prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing.

MATH
The Math Program used in Fourth Grade is Scott Foresman. The company provides an excellent website at www.SFSuccessNet.com. Through this website, students may access their student edition online at home, as well as find invaluable information to help them gain more practice on lessons being learned.

Units taught at the 4th Grade level include:

• Place Value and Money
• Basic Facts – multiplication and division
• Addition and Subtraction of whole numbers and money
• Problem Solving
• Multiplying by one and two digit numbers
• Dividing
• Geometry and Measurement
• Fractions
• Decimals
• Graphing and Probability

At the beginning of each year we test students in order to help us place them in the correct ability grouping. These are flexible groupings which can change as needed.

Problem Solving is a major component of the Math program. It is also essential that students take time to master their basic addition, subtraction and multiplication facts.

READING
The reading program is centered around a reading text. Students are exposed to a variety of reading genre including fiction and nonfiction selections.

Vocabulary is stressed and students are introduced to new vocabulary with each reading selection. These new vocabulary words are then a part of the spelling unit for the week.

Students work on many reading comprehension skills throughout the year. These skills are an integral piece in forming higher level thinking skills. Some of these are:

• cause/effect
• fact/opinion
• important/unimportant information
• figurative language
• context clues
• inferences
• problem/solution
• main idea
• story elements

The reading program is supplemented and enhanced by the use of leveled readers, SRA - an independent/self-paced reading program, and book reports.

RELIGION
St. Croix Catholic School will be using a new religion series, Image of God, beginning 2006-2007. The fourth grade book is entitled We Follow Jesus and focuses on the moral life, including creation, original sin, Jesus as our example, and the Ten Commandments. We also study the seasons of the liturgical year—Advent and Christmas, Lent and Easter—and various Catholic devotions, including the Rosary, the Stations of the Cross and reading Scripture. We participate in weekly school Mass and Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction.

SCIENCE
The Science program used in Fourth Grade is HARCOURT SCIENCE. The curriculum is correlated to both the National Science Standards and the Minnesota Science Standards.

Take time to visit the web learning site at: www.harcourtschool.com. It is a web site filled with both information and fun activities to do in order to help your child learn more about science and supplement their classroom lessons. When entering this web site it will ask you to enter a password. The password is the last name of any of the authors listed in the front of the book, for example, Lang.

The concepts we will be learning about this year are:

• Human Body Systems
• Weather Conditions
• The Oceans
• Motion – Forces at Work
• Simple Machines
• Sound
• Light

Your child will have one at-home project in Science during the year. This will be to construct a simple machine. Watch for information to come home about this project while we are studying simple machines.

Vocabulary Flash cards will be provided for each unit of study, and will be kept in the Science section of the student portfolio. These are very helpful in studying for the unit tests.

SOCIAL STUDIES
The regions of the United States are the focus of the fourth grade curriculum. For our studies, the country is divided into five regions. Emphasis is placed on learning about the geography, resources and economy of these regions. Students also learn about interdependence as they understand how the different regions rely on one another for daily needs. Note taking, completion of weekly assignments, chapter tests and identification of all fifty states and major bodies of water will be expected of the students.

• Our Country’s Environment
• Our Country’s People and Government
• The Southeastern Environment
• The Northeastern Environment
• The Middle Western Environment
• The Southwestern Environment
• The Western Environment

SPELLING
Students are responsible for their spelling words on a weekly basis. Students will be assessed through weekly spelling tests usually given on Fridays, as well as through spelling workbook activities and dictation tests.

LIBRARY/COMPUTERS (Mrs. Koenning and Mrs. Donlon)
Students spend one class per week in the computer lab and one class per week in the Library.

MUSIC and PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Physical Education and Music are taught on a rotating schedule by a specialist.

BAND
Band is taught at SCCS beginning in Fourth Grade. Both small and large group lessons are scheduled once a week. There is a tuition charge for band. Students are expected to pick up any classroom materials missed during their Band lessons. They need to check the assignment board to stay current.

ART
Fourth Grade students receive one trimester of art taught by art specialist, Mrs. Fioritto. The remainder of the year, art is taught by the homeroom teacher.

SPANISH
Two classes per week with the Spanish Specialist

“TAKE HOME” FOLDERS
To ensure regular home-school communication, students will use a “Take Home” folder. This folder will contain corrected assignments and tests as well as important information such as SCCS FYI weekly newsletter, and notes regarding upcoming events. Please check this folder regularly, keep the contents of this folder at home and return the folder to school the following day.

Grading

A	95 - 100
A-	90 - 94
B+	87 - 89
B	83 - 86
B-	80 - 82
C+	77 - 79
C	73 - 76
C-	70 - 72
D+	67 - 69
D	63 - 66
D-	60 - 62
F	59 and below