Parent Guide: Curriculum & Student Learning
FOURTH GRADE The Elementary Progress Report is based on Salem-Keizer Standards. For a full description please go to www.salkeiz.k12.or.us/content/parents and click on the standards link or contact your child’s teacher.
READING
Students will read a variety of grade level texts (e.g. fiction, non-fiction, poetry) with accuracy, fluency, and comprehension. As the year progresses, so does the complexity of the text.
• Accuracy – students are able to read grade level text accurately by recognizing some words by sight, and using clues to decode unfamiliar words (e.g. text clues, picture clues and context clues). • Fluency – Students read grade-level text with expression that is beginning to sound conversational.
• Comprehension – Students listen to, read, and understand a wide variety of informational and narrative text across the subject areas at school and on own, applying comprehension strategies (e.g. visualizing, connecting, asking questions), skills (e.g. retell, identify main idea and supporting details) and vocabulary as needed.
Students will experience writing in authentic ways, writing for real audiences in a variety of genres (e.g. personal narratives, essays and informational reports). Students will create writing by studying real authors and applying strategies good writers use: • The Writing Process – students generate ideas, create drafts, • Conventions – students use correct spelling, grammar, revise/confer, edit & publish. punctuation, capitalization, and paragraphing as appropriate to grade level standards. • Ideas and Content – students communicate knowledge of the • Sentence Fluency – students use varied sentence structures to topic, write relevant examples, and convey clear main ideas, facts, anecdotes, and details appropriate to the topic, audience, enhance flow, rhythm, length and meaning. and purpose. • Voice – Personal style comes through in words. • Organization – students structure information in a clear sequence • Word Choice – students use accurate, colorful and descriptive including beginning, middle, and end. They make connections words to express ideas. and transition among ideas, sentences, and paragraphs.
WRITING
SPEAKING & LISTENING Students will listen critically and respond appropriately across all subject areas, formally and informally. Students will comprehend, express, and exchange ideas for a variety of authentic purposes. This includes communicating in clear sequence, making connections and transitions, using language appropriate to topic, context, audience and purpose.
MATHEMATICS
Students will develop math skills that promote problem solving, reasoning, communication, and making connections. Students will solve mathematical situations using a variety of methods and strategies to communicate learning. Experiences in math include the following:
• Number and Operations – students develop an understanding of decimals including the connections between fractions and decimals. • Numbers, Operations, Algebra, Data Analysis – students develop fluency with multiplication facts and related division facts and with multi-digit whole number multiplication.
SCIENCE
• Measurement – students develop an understanding of area and determine the areas of two dimensional shapes. • Uses mathematical representations and communicates reasoning – students use manipulatives and models (e.g., connecting cubes, charts, various fraction and decimal models, base-ten pieces, number lines, arrays) to communicate understanding of mathematical concepts and operations.
Students will experience science in contexts that promote the scientific inquiry approach. Learning will incorporate engineering and design and the scientific method through the use of evidence, critical thinking, making connections and communications. Areas of study will include: • Fossils and living organisms • Organisms and their environment • Forms of energy
• Physical changes • Earth’s materials • Changes in the Earth’s Surface
SOCIAL STUDIES, HEALTH & ART Students will be given multiple experiences in these content areas throughout their literacy block and/or content block.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT Second language learners can correctly use language to listen and share their ideas orally and in writing.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Students should begin to:
• Demonstrate motor skills in a variety of activities • Provide evidence of a physically active lifestyle • Demonstrate ways to maintain physical fitness • Demonstrate respect for others during activities
LIBRARY MEDIA/TECHNOLOGY
Students should begin to:
• Understand and apply technology to solve instructional problems • Demonstrate growth in research skills • Demonstrate understanding and respect for a wide range of literary materials
MUSIC
Students should begin to:
• Sing in harmony • Apply music skills • Demonstrate an understanding and respect for diverse musical genre
ELEMENTARY PROGRESS REPORT GENERAL SCORING GUIDELINES Scores for all subjects are based on class work, teacher observations and various assessments. Each academic area receives a score of 1-6 showing the level the student is performing. A score of 4 is proficient and shows that the student is meeting grade-level expectations. The full scoring scale is on each progress report. Each academic area also receives an effort score of E, S+, S, S-, or N and indicates the student’s participation and attentiveness. Students also receive a score for Characteristics of Successful Learners (e.g. returns homework on time, focuses attention or demonstrates respect). These are skills all students should develop to be successful in and out of school.
Sandy Husk, Superintendent Salem-Keizer Public Schools promotes equal opportunity for all individuals without regard to age, color, disability, marital status, national origin, race, religion or creed, sex or gender, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
