Grade 4 serves students who have turned 9 by October 1.   Each week, students attend specialist classes in physical education, art, music, drama, library, counseling and French or Arabic language.

Student Expectations

All AIS-R Elementary school students are expected to follow the AIS-R EAGLE Honor Code, which defines what it means to be an AIS-R EAGLE:  Ethical, Adaptable, Global, Learning, and Environmental.

Reading and Writing Workshop

Literacy is achieved with a three block framework that includes Language and Word Study (spelling using the Words Their Way program), Reader's Workshop and Writer's Workshop.

Math

The AIS-R Elementary school uses the Everyday Mathematics program. Everyday Mathematics connects math to real-world situations through the spiraling practice of basic skills and the use of manipulatives for problem solving and mathematical thinking. This program allows us to use cooperative learning, differentiated instruction, and approaches that meet the needs of multiple intelligences within the class.  Each math lesson includes four components:  warm-up activities, introduction of new content, ongoing learning and practice and a Study Link is assigned.

With our math program, regular reinforcement of skills will appear multiple times and throughout a course of study. The key principle in regards to spiraling and spacing out skill practice is that proficiency in basic skills are goals that should be achieved long after they are first introduced, giving students needed time for repetition and review.

Program goals in grade 4 include reading and writing whole numbers up to 1,000,000,000 and decimals through thousandths, reading, writing and modeling fractions, solving problems including fractional parts, finding multiples of whole numbers less than 10, using numerical expressions to find and represent equivalent names for fractions and decimals, using and explaining a multiplication rule to find equivalent fractions, comparing and ordering numbers up to 1,000,000,000, demonstrating automaticity with basic addition and subtraction facts and multiplication facts through 10x10 and proficiency with related division facts, using metal arithmetic and other algorithms to solve problems involving multiplication of mulitdigit whole numbers by 2-digit whole numbers, making reasonable estimates for whole number and decimal addition, subtraction, multiplication and division problems, collecting and organizing data to create charts, tables, bar graphs, line plots and line graphs, using the maximum, minimum, range, median, mode and graphs to ask and answer questions, draw conclusions and make predictions, estimating length with and without tools, measuring length to the nearest 1/4 inch and 1/2 centimeter, estimating the size of angles without tools, and describing and using strategies to measure the perimeter and area of polygons.

Science and Social Studies

In fourth grade, science and social studies units are alternated through the year. The units studied are "Ecosystems", "Health", "Electricity and Magnetism", "Push and Pull", "Regions of the United States", "Map Skills".

Homework

Homework is assigned Saturday through Tuesday and should take about 40 minutes.  Daily homework is recorded in the student's homework agenda and is also posted on Moodle.  Homework includes 20-30 minutes of daily reading log.  Students are expected to complete their reading log and have a parent sign it.  A Math Study Link will be given daily for homework.  Math facts and spelling words should be practiced daily.  Any additional projects or finish-up work will be noted in the Homework Notes section of the recording sheet.

Birthdays

We love to celebrate!  We would appreciate it if you could send small bars, cookies or cupcakes to help us celebrate  Please provide any napkins, plates or utensils needed to serve your child's treat.

Reporting and Assessing

Teachers collect learning data through formative and summative assessments.  Formative assessments may be in the form of homework , class work, anecdotal notes, observations, questioning, discussion, etc.  Summative assessments will take the form of unit or chapter tests, final assessments, final rubrics, performance assessments, etc.  Progress Reports may be sent home up to four times a year and Report Cards are sent home at the end of each quarter.

Special Events

Grade 4 students participate in a wide range of special activities throughout the year such as Walk-a-Thons, a holiday concert, science fair, field trips, Splish 'N Splash day and much more.

Each grade level performs in an assembly at least once a year.  This year our assemblies will be based on our AIS-R EAGLE Honor Code with each grade level responsible for one letter in the code.  Students and teachers work together to create the show with singing, dancing, speaking parts.  Student-made videos are often incorporated into the shows.  Specialist teachers are also involved with the music, the backdrops, props, costumes or other artwork.  The tech teacher is often involved with the video production.  Every student is involved in the creation and performance of these assemblies.  Assemblies are performed in AIS-R’s beautiful Larkin Theater for parents and the elementary school student body.

If you would like to find out even more about or elementary school, please visit our ES Blog at http://blogs.ais-r.edu.sa/jcanar/

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