Mr.+Tucker

=﻿Mr. Tucker--Grade 4=

Language Arts
===﻿In Language Arts, I will assign trade books to students based on their interests and reading ability. The students will demonstrate and improve their comprehension through discussion, answering objective questions, and through their writing. We will continue to use 6 +1 Traits of Writing to assess written work in Language Arts and in all subjects. In spelling we will study digraphs and rules for spelling plurals and adding suffixes to words.===

Math
===﻿In Math, we spend a great deal of time on fractions. The students will learn about the different meanings a fraction can have (part of a whole or part of a set.) The students will learn how to find equivalent fractions and to write fractions in simplest form. The students will learn how to convert mixed numbers to improper fractions and vice versa. The students will learn how to add and subtract like and unlike fractions and mixed numbers. We will also review decimal place and value and operations with decimals. Towards the end of the quarter, the students will be introduced to long division with a single digit divisor.===

Science
===﻿In Science, we will conclude our study of the life sciences by comparing the different vertebrate groups and discussing several organ systems (digestive, circulatory, respiratory, nervous, skeletal.) Then we will study the solar system including the earth's rotation, the lunar cycle, and the 7 other planets. We will begin a study of the water cycle at the end of the third quarter.===

Social Studies
===﻿In Social Studies, we will study the Midwest region of the U.S. with special emphasis on the reasons for its increased agricultural productivity. We will also study the U.S. Southwest with an emphasis on the way its scarce water supply has been allocated.===

Technology
===﻿We visit the computer lab twice a week for a total of 90 minutes. We use this time to strengthen and extend science and social studies concepts through websites and videos. We also use word processing software to publish final drafts. Some students practice keyboarding using the Mavis Beacon program.===

Language Arts
==﻿In Language Arts I will continue to assign trade books to students based on their interests and reading ability. The students will demonstrate their comprehension of the books through discussion, objective questions, and through their writing. This quarter will see an emphasis on the 6+1 traits of writing across the subject areas. In spelling, we will study digraphs and consonant sound spelling patterns.==

**Math**
==In Math we will wrap up multiplying multi-digit numbers. We will practice converting units in the metric system. The students will be introduced to exponents. A major emphasis this quarter will be the relationships among fractions, decimals, and percents. We will apply these relationships in explorations of probability.==

Science
==﻿In Science, we will study plants. We will emphasize their life cycles and the process of photosynthesis. We will also work with middle school students in the lab to investigate soil properties. We will conclude our study of biology by learning more about the different groups of vertebrates and invertebrates.==

Social Studies
==﻿In Social Studies, we will continue our study of the geography and history of the U.S. Northeast. We will move into studying the Midwest region as the quarter progresses. As in the first quarter, universal social studies concepts and vocabulary will be emphasized over details particular to the U.S.==

Technology
==﻿**We use the computer twice a week for various activities. We are able to view science videos to support our studies in science. We visit websites to strengthen and extend concepts in science and social studies. We practice keyboarding using the Mavis Beacon typing program. We will use a word processing program to publish some of our writing.**==

Language Arts
===﻿In August and September, the entire class read several stories with the theme of risks and consequences. We wrote summaries of these stories and compared and contrasted characters and situations. We also read //Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes// to get ready for AIAN Peace Day. In spelling we mostly studied the long vowel spelling patterns.===

===﻿In October, students will be reading different books according to their interests and reading ability. We will continue to write summaries and comparisons to show our understanding. During our language arts time we will start to read more non-fiction text which may supplement our study of science and social studies. In spelling, we will study diphthong patterns (ow, oi) and r-controlled vowels (ar,er).===

Math
===﻿In August and September, we briefly reviewed addition and subtraction of whole numbers. We studied the place value system from the ones to the billions. We reviewed the procedure and rationale for rounding a number to a given place. We reviewed the concept of perimeter. We practiced our multiplication and division facts and reviewed simple division with remainders. We also studied and applied the Associative, Commutative, and Distributive Properties of multiplication. We read word problems and wrote equations using parentheses. We also learned about the (x,y) coordinate system and started to learn about simple functions.===

===﻿In October, we will continue to learn about simple functions and how to graph them. We will learn more about choosing an appropriate scale when creating our own graphs. Then we will learn about composite functions and graph them as well. Next, we will review multiplying two and three digit numbers by a one digit number before moving on to multiplying by ten and by multiples of ten. By the end of the first quarter, we will be ready to learn how to carry out double digit multiplication.===

Social Studies
===﻿In August and September, we reviewed several different landforms such as a valley, a peninsula, and a mountain range. We also read about the Southeast region of the United States. We practiced using the features of informational text such as the index, the glossary, the captions, and the headings.===

===﻿In October, we will learn more about the geography and history of the Southeast as well as the Northeast. We will also learn about lines of latitude and longitude and how they are similar to the coordinate system we have used in math.===

Science
===﻿In August and September, we studied biology. We started by studying and comparing plant and animal cells. We also discussed the definition of a living thing and found out how living things are classified into groups.===

===In October, we will continue our study of biology. We will read about fossils and how scientists use them to find out how organisms are related. We will learn about the types of ecosystems. We will learn about how different parts of an ecosystem can affect the other parts. We will create food chains and food webs. By the end of the first quarter, we will be ready to zero in on the plant kingdom and learn more about the parts of a plant and how photosynthesis is carried out. Students will grow their own plants and conduct simple experiments to illustrate what we are studying in the textbook.===

Technology
===﻿This year we want to improve each student's keyboarding skills. In August and September, we started a new typing program called Mavis Beacon. Each student took a timed typing test which determined an appropriate starting point. When using Mavis Beacon, students divide their time among lessons, practice, tests, and games. We have also used our time in the computer lab to visit a science website to learn more about cells.===

===﻿In October, we will continue to use the Mavis Beacon program. Students will have a chance to apply their typing skills by using a word processor to type some of their own writing. We will keep exploring relevant websites involving science and perhaps math and social studies.===