4th Grade

Welcome back!  We are excited to have started a new year.  All the fourth grade teachers are enjoying their classes.  Thanks for raising well-mannered, respectful students who are eagar to learn.  

We have listed below upcoming events and also a brief overview of curriculum that is covered in the fourth grade.  You will know that the fourth grade team at Elk Meadows covers all the State Core Curriculum mandated by the State of Utah.

Reading:  Please know that your children will receive reading instruction and encouragement.  They will be given leveled individual and group guided reading opportunities.  To help in this, fourth graders are expected to read at least 20 minutes an evening.  Please make sure your student is reading at home.  They will accomplish a Fantastic Falcon goal if they read 20 minutes every evening (five times a week) throughout the year.  This will be around 3500 minutes for the entire school year.

Your fourth grader will rotate through all fourth grade teachers.  We allow the students to enjoy physical education with Mrs. Gillespie, music with Mr. Davidson, art with Mrs. Muhlestein, and crafts with Ms. Mullins.    You will notice several of the Fantastic Falcon goals have to do with the activities done during rotations.  

Every day (except Friday) the students are encouraged to jog.  This is a very healthy activity.  Please encourage your student to wear appropriate shoes for this activity (another Fantistic Falcon Goal opportunity).  We invite students to bring water bottles from home to get us through the warm months.

Mr. Davidson will be teaching your students recorders in music.  The school districts of Utah arrange for the lucky fourth grade students to attend the Symphony.  The date selected for this year is September 15.  The students (A,C,D Tracts) will need to wear their Sunday Best clothes.  We love to see the girls dressed in skirts, and boys in their button shirts and ties.  The behavior of the students greatly improves when they dress in their very best.  

The PTA is encouraging our students to be writers.  Each month students will be invited to write  an essay on the character theme of the month.  Prizes will be awarded to participating students.  The first Character Essay is due August 27.  This is another opportunity to do a Fantastic Falcon Goal.

The Utah Core Social Studies Curriculum is the study of the state of Utah.  Your child will be able to share all sorts of exciting new learning that they are receiving while here at school.  Another mandatory Fantastic Falcon goal for fourth grade is to complete The County Project.  This consists of  a county booklet, giving an oral report, create a shoe box float display, and create a ten-question game for the other students to play.   This is always a highlight for fourth grade.  Please know that your student will get further information on this project and deadline dates from their teacher.

As you can tell we have included many of the Utah State Curriculum for fourth grade into our Fantastic Falcon goals.  Please know that the students have all year to work on these goals and we encourage you to support them in this effort.  Every year, we have some sad students at the end of the year that come short of reaching this goal because they haven't worked steadiy on it all year and procrastinated until  the last weeks and then ran out of time to get it all done.  There are some mandatory goals and other that are optional.  The students must complete 12 of the 20 suggested activities.

The PTA Reflections is just around the corner.  Participating in this great project will be another way to reach a Fantastic Falcon goal.  

Because of the year round track schedule, each class is studying different subjects and concepts for math and science at varying times.  We encourage you to contact your individual teacher to become aware of the concepts that are being taught.
 
Thanks for your support.  We look forward to a great year!