Welcome to Fourth Grade! We will be learning many new things this year – academic skills, organizational skills, social skills, self-confidence, and responsibility.

In Science, we have been studying space and technology. With new discoveries being brought to us every day by high-tech telescopes, satellites, and the aptly named Curiosity mission to Mars, 4th graders have discovered that our view of the solar system is constantly changing. In learning the definition of technology, the study, development, and application of devices, machines, and techniques for manufacturing and productive processes, we have also discovered that we are surrounded by and affected by technology in our classroom every day.

We began our studies in U.S. History by learning about the first peoples on the North American continent - Aztecs, Mayas, Inca, and the Inuits. Next, we learned about the European and Asian influences that led to the discovery of North America. We are now ready to embark on long voyages across the Atlantic Ocean where land, wealth, and freedom were discovered. On November 13th we will head down to Old Sacramento to climb aboard the Hawaiian Chieftain where we will take an imaginary journey through the world of late-18th century merchant sailors. We are sure to discover a little treasure of our own as we sail the world’s oceans (docked on the Sacramento River!) in search of fame and fortune.

We just completed our first unit in Math that covered place value up to the billions, estimation, rounding, addition, and subtraction of large numbers. In our next unit we will work on multiplying whole numbers and decimals, along with sharpening our mental math skills.

We just finish reading Frindle by Andrew Clemens and I believe the students can now understand and appreciate the dictionary, the words, and how they got in there. We wrapped up the story by creating out own words and adding them to www.wordcentral.com (site linked to Merriam-Webster).
Our next book will be the Newbery Honor book, Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare. This will tie in with the October oral presentation on Native Americans.
Our grammar skills are being challenged with the Daily Grammar Practice program and I’m pleased to see the program working already. According to DGP Publishing, here’s why:

1. Less is more. They really take these sentences apart and understand every aspect of them.

2. Concepts are broken into small parts, but the program is organized in a way that allows students to see how all of the parts fit together. Concepts are then revisited on a daily basis so that they aren't forgotten.

3. The sentences they're working with aren't just random sentences. They’re intentionally loaded with specific concepts at specific times. They start simple and get increasingly difficult. Concepts that students should have mastered at their grade level appear in early sentences and appear often. More difficult concepts appear later.

We will continue to use our Houghton Mifflin English textbook to strengthen grammar concepts and writing skills.

Our new vocabulary program, Wordly Wise 3000 and its website, www.wordlywise3000.com delivers direct vocabulary instruction by teaching the meanings of individual words, along with word-learning strategies. We will learn to use word parts to determine meaning – prefixes, suffixes, Greek and Latin roots. The reading passages provide words in context and integrate critical vocabulary and comprehension skills.

On top of all this, we visited our State Capitol on Friday, September 7th and toured the building that is both museum and the state’s working seat of government. Amazing!

It has been a busy month in 4th grade!