An overview of our curriculum in fourth and fifth grade.
Virginia Studies
One of my favorite things about teaching fourth grade is all of the Virginia history we cover. We will start with a study of the unique geography of Virginia and then see how this influenced the formation of the original colony at Jamestown and the eventual establishment of Williamsburg and Richmond. Our study of Virginia's history will take us from 1607 to the present. We will take several field trips and use our local resources as well... we are so lucky to live in such a significant place with such a rich history.
Reading
I primarily teach all reading conventions through the reading of wonderful novels. It is my goal to have the students in my class start and finish books regularly. This will build their confidence and help them discover what kinds of books they enjoy... My ultimate goal is to foster a life-long love of reading. During our "Daily 5" reading choices/rotations each day, students have the opportunity to read for pleasure. This should be a book that is a good fit for them (think Goldilocks!) and one that they are interested in. During my time that I specifically meet with reading groups, we will be reading novels in small groups in a more structured way. Meeting with your children in small groups like this is one of my favorite times of the day; I love reading with my kids! Frequently, we have an extra time of day where we DEAR: Drop Everything And Read! I even bring my book and participate. If the weather is nice, sometimes we go outside and enjoy the courtyard. I love this time of day and love to see my students lost in a good book.
Writing/LA
An important part of being a good reader and writer is to recognize good writing and appreciate it. We spend a great deal of time talking about what makes a piece of writing good or bad. What's effective? Can you hear the author in this piece? We share our writing frequently. We learn from our peers and are inspired by them. The element of choice is a huge component of writing in my classroom. Students may jump from one writing piece to another, but may only choose to "publish" one or two a 9-weeks. Other students find a genre they enjoy writing about and create a compilation of stories. Other students may choose to write poems. We try new things, we share, and we learn from each other. I frequently conference with my writers, and here I imbed the teaching of specific conventions and skills where needed. This also guides our weekly writing whole-group lessons as well.
Spelling (Word Study)
This year, in lieu of "Word Study", we will be focusing on vocabulary building and focusing on word meanings. We will continue working through the "Vocabulary Surge" program that our school began piloting last year. Your 5th graders will be familiar with this program and we will work through this week by week. This will look different to you all, as there is not necessarily a homework component. (Hooray!). :)
Math
Math was always my favorite subject as a kid. I follow a more investigative approach when teaching mathematics. We spend a lot of time developing good mathematical thinking and having conversations about numbers and math. Typically I will start each day with a math journal. This is an opportunity for students to become comfortable with using different strategies to solve and problem, and expressing their thinking in different ways. I always say that the purpose of these journals is to get you thinking about your mathematical thinking; I don't care whether the answer is correct or not. If I see good strategies and sound mathematical thinking, I am pleased.
Science
Science is such a fun subject to teach and learn. I love to join in the students curiosity and enthusiasm when we learn about subjects like weather, animal adaptations, electricity and magnetism, and more. We build on these foundations in 5th grade, with even more exciting topics like plate tectonics, oceans, light, sound, and more. Science is not just learning facts; it is a process of discovery and asking questions. I strive to have my students continue to ask "why" and challenge what they know. Science is exciting! It's a way of discovering what is in the universe and is always changing. Once one discovery is made and a question is answered, it is not finished... it just leads to another question and another investigation.
