The 4th Grade math program emphasizes reasoning and problem-solving skills. Students work with numbers into the billions place, learning to round, estimate, and assess the reasonableness of their answers. Students learn long division, and through practice become proficient at performing all four operations with whole numbers, fractions, and decimals. Students explore different number systems throughout the year. Geometry topics include types of triangles, area and perimeter of polygons, and measuring angles. Students convert between units of measurement through hands-on tasks to develop useful algorithms for conversions. In the spring, 4th Grade students practice multi-step word problems and math puzzles that require higher-order thinking.
4th Grade
4th grade continues to refine the work habits learned in lower school. Students are encouraged to manage an increased amount of independent work, especially learning about time management and prioritizing tasks. The 4th grade team incorporates the principles of The Responsive Classroom to support the maturing students' ability to self- regulate and manage increasingly complex social situations. Students in 4th grade learn all about Texas history, and interact with important community leaders as part of understanding the importance of citizenship. Emphasis is placed on individual responsibility, both throughout history and in the students' own future as community members. In Mathematics, students continue to work with all four operations, but begin to use more complex numbers, as well as fractions and decimals. Students continue to solve problems involving both customary and metric measurement. Geometry emphasis is on classifying shapes, symmetry, as well as angle measurement. In Language Arts, students are involved in reading and analyzing many kinds of texts: expository, fiction, novels, short stories, and poetry. While working with these pieces, students explore point of view, theme, character traits, and plot analysis. These kinds of explorations strengthen their reading comprehension as they begin to read increasingly complex material. Students in 4th grade are expected to write in cursive and to write daily, both in interactive journals and through the formal writing process. Students use prewriting, revising, and editing regularly to refine their writing skills. The class reads novels together that enhance both the Social Studies and social emotional learning that is emphasized.