1. Welcome to Patriots STEM Elementary Curriculum Night!
4TH GRADE

2. Our Mission
Patriots STEM Elementary will work with families and the community to meet the diverse needs of our students by engaging learners with a current and challenging curriculum to promote collaboration, problem-solving, and innovation so that they are prepared to enter a globally competitive world.

3. We will
prepare students to be academically successful, socially aware, scientifically literate, and respectful, responsible citizens in the global community.

4. Schedule Arrival/Morning Routine 7:45 – 8:25 First Block 8:30 – 9:55
Second Block 10:00 – 12:30
Specials/Connect 10: :00
Continue with second block after returning from specials
Lunch 12:35 -1:00
Recess 1:05 – 1:30
Third Block 1:35 – 2:50
Dismissal 3:00

5. Specials Fourth Graders will follow a 7 day connect rotation/schedule.
Special area classes include:
Art
Music
P.E.
Technology
Media
Fit Lab

6. Curriculum Writer’s Workshop
Balanced Literacy with a focus on Readers Workshop
Math Workshop
Problem-Based Learning (STEM)
Whole-class and small groups
Projects: Home and school based!
Language
Arts

7. What is Problem-Based Learning?
Student-centered and experimental
Builds on or challenges student schema/knowledge
Develops critical and creative thinking
Creates effective problem solvers
Highly context-specific. It is based on real-life situations
Promotes collaboration and interdependence

8. Problem Based Lessons (PBL)
Choose real-world problems
Make it relevant and meaningful
Present problem first, then guide students through the targeted content
Content and skills are introduced through the process of problem-solving
Students are required to use their prior/background knowledge

9. Language Arts--Reading
We are committed to creating Avid Readers.
We use a Reading Workshop Model
Focused Lesson
Independent Practice of Skill Taught
Teacher meeting with groups and/or individual students while students complete individual or partner assignments/centers.

10. Reading Curriculum Topics
Character Study
Nonfiction Text Structure--Expository, Narrative, and Hybrid Text
Historical Book Clubs and Informational Text
Book Club Study
Reading to Learn: Civil War

11. Language Arts--Writing
Write for a variety of purposes
and audiences
Components
Grammar/Sentence Structure
Word Work
Writing Across the Curriculum
All subjects will have writing components to them

12. Math Curriculum Place Value
Read ,write, and compare numbers to one million, use all four operations to answer word problems (multiplication, division, addition, subtraction)
Fractions
Add, subtract, multiply, and compare fractions
Mixed numbers and improper fractions
Algebra
Order of Operations and algebraic expressions
Input/output charts
Measurement and Data
Measurement conversions and volume
Line plots
Area and Perimeter
Geometry
Draw and identify lines and angles
Classify shapes by properties

13. Math
The fourth grade math curriculum will be taught through the math workshop model.
Whole group mini lesson
Math Rotations
Differentiated small group guided lesson with teacher
Computer Based activity (Dreambox/ALEKS, or another assigned activity for this portion of math workshop)
Math Reasoning (Partnerships working collaboratively to solve multi-step math word problems.
Lesson Conclusion/Wrap-up

14. How can you help your child at home?
Math Homework
Math homework is assigned at the beginning of the week.
Homework will be a variety of problems that review previously learned skills.
Unfinished classwork may also be given as homework on occasion.
How can you help your child at home?
Reviewing math homework
Correcting math assignments
Only math tests will be accepted for grade adjustments.
Practicing multiplication facts (fluency is must in 4th grade!)
Visiting my webpage for additional resources

15. & Engineering Animal Behavior and Adaptations Rocks and Minerals
Forces & Motion
Magnetism and Electricity
Food Chemistry
Earth History and Landforms
Engineering projects including Robotics

16. Social Studies Our focus is on North Carolina…..
Geography (including landforms)
History
Government
Culture
Economics

17. Homework Reading Reading Log--20 minutes and Log
Reading Passage to Practice Reading Skill
Math
Weekly Math Page
Additional assignments/projects may be assigned at the end of the unit of study.
Unfinished work from class will need to be completed at home
Graded Assignments/Projects turned in late will receive a 10 point deduction and will not be accepted 2 weeks prior to the semester ending.

18. Grades Grades are recorded in PowerSchool by the teacher.
If you need your user id and password contact Janet Cregan.
Grading Scale A B C D
F and below
Lowest score given in Power School is a 40 if students have attempted the work.
Homework is not graded, however points are earned for completing it with effort. At the end of each month, the number of points earned are converted into a homework grade for that month.

19. Assessments and Progress Reports
Benchmark assessments will be completed 3 times a year—in September, November, February/March.
Unit Pre and Post Test are given to measure growth.
Students will be assessed by
Teacher created tests/quizzes
i-Ready
Reading 3-D (if not reading on grade level)
Discovery Ed will be used for computerized assessments throughout the school year for Reading and Math.
First quarter progress reports will be sent home on October 3rd.

20. School Wide Behavior Plan
Patriots STEM Elementary School has adopted a school wide behavior policy. This has been done to support our students in making good choices, facilitate learning, and provide a safe environment in which all students can thrive.
All students are expected to follow rules and procedures adopted through this policy and discussed in detail the first week of school.
Above and below the line marks will be recorded on the character card daily.
Please review your child’s character card nightly and initial for that day only. Please do not initial beyond the current day.

21. Field Trips Cabarrus Arts Council Aw Shucks Farm (Fall)
Raleigh (Spring)
Aviation Museum

22. Your support is very much appreciated!
Thank You for Coming!
Your support is very much appreciated!