Fourth Grade
Fourth Grade Overview As the oldest children in the lower school, fourth graders are given the privilege of leadership opportunities throughout the school day. We believe students at FRA learn best by participating in rigorous, real-world learning experiences. Students are engaged in learning opportunities that develop problem-solving skills, and they find success and build understanding through collaboration, investigation, and conversation. To contribute to a supportive learning community in a Christian environment, they learn skills and values to become responsible students of strong character. Our goal is for students to become enthusiastic, lifelong learners who exhibit leadership skills and a commitment to excellence.
Program Highlights: We provide a variety of meaningful learning experiences that foster each child’s character and academic development. These opportunities lead students along their educational journey.
• 1:1 iPads: Every student in fourth grade is provided a school-owned iPad to use throughout the school day. This outstanding tool enhances learning and provides a variety of mediums for students to acquire knowledge and practice skills.
• Fourth Grade Retreat: Students will take a yearly retreat at the beginning of the school year to build community and leadership skills.
• Fourth Grade Visual and Performing Arts Show: This event showcases the artistic talents of the fourth
grade class. Each student produces a work of visual art and participates in the performance either on stage or as a theatrical technician behind the scenes.
• Leadership Opportunities: All fourth grade students participate in a Leadership Retreat at the beginning of the school year to learn about opportunities throughout the year, such as serving as greeters in the morning to assist the younger children as they exit their cars.
• Panther Pals: In an effort to connect the fourth grade students with the seventh grade students, Panther Pals
events are held several times throughout the year. During these events, fourth grade students and seventh grade students participate in community-building activities. This fosters relationships between the two classes, who will represent the fifth grade and eighth grade classes in the middle school the following school year.
• Philanthropy Focus: Literacy is our philanthropic focus for fourth grade. The students are paired with emerging readers from a local school and spend quality time sharing the joy of literature. The fourth grade classes visit several times during the school year to build relationships and foster literacy. Students are given the opportunity to participate in a “read-a-thon” in order to raise money and purchase books for their reading partners.
• Winter Olympics: Students participate in an annual Winter Olympics competition. This event is a collaboration of the learning that takes place in enrichments as well as the general classroom.
Academic Highlights Literacy: • • •
Using strategies and skills to engage in active reading • Utilizing a variety of literary genres to expose students • to complex text structures and content • Developing vocabulary and word analysis skills
Applying accurate spelling patterns to writing Writing to communicate for a variety of purposes Conveying mastery of grammatical conventions in writing
Math: • • •
Empowering students to use number sense to identify • relationships within whole numbers Applying multiple functions of fractions and decimals • Solving real-world word problems using multiple • mathematic strategies and operations
Science: • •
Social Studies:
Investigating and studying earth science, life science, • and physical science Engaging in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, • and Math) learning activities
2021-22
Making sense of measurement quantities, conversions, and their relationships Comprehending and applying geometric attributes Collecting and analyzing data to construct viable arguments and justify reasoning Understanding the history and development of each region of the United States Comparing and contrasting the culture, geography, and economies of the five U.S. regions
Fourth Grade Program Schedule 7:45 a.m.
Arrival: Students begin arriving in the classroom. They unpack their backpacks and work on morning work activities.
7:50 a.m.
Devotion: The teacher shares a Bible story, and the class prays together. On Wednesdays, students attend a lower school chapel program led by various FRA staff members and individual classrooms.
8:05 a.m.
Literacy: Students work on developing an enthusiasm for reading as well as skills and strategies that will enrich their enjoyment and understanding of the written text. Students apply these strategies to a variety of literary genres and reading materials. We follow the “Reading Workshop” model in which students are given the opportunity to receive whole-group, small-group, and individualized instruction. Students read independently, work with words to expand vocabulary, practice reading fluently and accurately, and develop writing skills. Whole Group: The teacher provides whole-group instruction that addresses a literacy strategy or skill. Small Group: The students work with the teacher in a small group. During this time, the teacher is able to provide differentiated instruction that addresses the students’ specific needs as readers. Conferences: The student and teacher meet together one-on-one to talk about reading or writing. Independent Reading: Students read independently at their individual reading levels to utilize and expand their repertoire of reading strategies.
9:25 a.m.
Math: We use the Math in Focus: Singapore Math curriculum to guide our daily math instruction. This program encourages exploration to develop deep conceptual understanding through a focus on problem solving. Students engage in learning activities that strengthen number sense and critical thinking. The learning progression of our instruction develops from concrete to pictorial to abstract.
10:30 a.m.
Physical Education: All fourth grade students participate in P.E. together for 30 minutes daily.
11 a.m.
Being a Writer: The Being a Writer program provides a writing process approach to teaching writing that interweaves academic and social/emotional learning. We use authentic children’s literature to create a collaborative classroom environment where teachers facilitate student discussion, provide a model for the respectful exchange of ideas, and help students develop their own voices. Students also participate in grammar lessons to develop their understanding of the written language.
11:40 a.m.
Lunch
12:15 p.m.
Enrichments: Students attend one of five enrichment classes for 45 minutes each day: STEM Lab • Guidance • Performing Arts • Visual Arts • Media Center • Spanish
1:05 p.m.
Recess: Fourth grade students enjoy a common recess time on the playground.
1:40 p.m.
Science or Social Studies: Our science study encompasses life science, physical science, and earth science. Work in the STEM lab supports the science curriculum being taught in the classroom. In social studies, students study map skills and learn about the five regions of the United States. During their study, they learn about the geography, history, economy, and culture of each region.
2:40 p.m.
Dismissal
2021-22
4700 Franklin Pike Nashville, TN 37220 FranklinRoadAcademy.com