Language Arts

• Houghton Mifflin literature anthology skills book. Traditions
• Core literature selection: Island of the Blue Dolphins By Scott O’Dell
• Core literature selection: By the Great Horn Spoon! By Sid Fleischman
• Rebecca Sitton Spelling
• Daily Oral Language (DOL) focusing on grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, etc.
• Young Author’s Faire
• Book Club
• Essay, Response to Literature, and Personal Narrative Writing

Math

• Everyday Mathematics - The University of Chicago School Mathematics Project
• Daily Math
• Problem of the Day
• Problem of the Week

Social Studies

• Harcourt Reflections
• Research skills-library and Internet
• Field Trips
• Daily Geography

Science

• MacMillan/McGraw-Hill California Science
• Inquiry investigations and scientific method (in class investigations)
• Science Fair
• Field Trips
• Lawrence Hall of Science

Reports

Report writing is a large part of 4th grade curriculum. Report writing includes a number of skills.

• California Native American Report: This report is done in small groups. Each child is responsible for some aspect of the final report on a particular tribe in California. For example, one student will study the daily life of their tribe while another will research the cultural traditions of the same tribe. The group will combine their research for the final report. Gathering of information is done in class and the word processing is done at home.
• Mission Report: Each student will choose a California Mission to study, excluding San Juan Bautista (class field trip). Students will write a report and create a visual project (video tape of Mission, photo journal/essay, model of mission, etc.)

Music

• Weekly lessons with music specialist, Margie Alejandro

Art

• Art Docent Lessons
• Class projects
• SEF Funded Art

Physical Education

• Two weekly lessons with physical education specialist, Laurah Wallace
• Emphasis on physical fitness, motor skills, movement, and sportsmanship

Computers

• Weekly computer lab time with me all year
• Weekly lessons with computer specialist, Doris Heller, starting in February
• Emphasis on new application programs, multimedia, keyboarding, and word processing