GRADE 4 (Age 9-10 Years Old) 

Source:  AchievetheCore/Great School/Scholastic

4th Grade Math

Math Main Topic: Expand Knowledge on Place Values, Fractions, and Math Operations

In school, 4th Graders will be developing their math skills. They should be comfortable solving addition and subtraction problems. It is a requirement that students understand how to solve addition and subtraction problems with numbers that go as high as 1,000,000 before they move on to the next grade level. They’ll also begin learning more multiplying skills like multiplying two digits two-digit numbers ( Ex: 22x22)  or multiplying four-digit X one-digit numbers (8731x5). They will be learning different strategies to get to the right answer. Throughout the school year, they will also begin comparing fractions. They will compare which fraction is more, (⅓ vs ⅙), and begin learning the concept of common denominators. When looking at word problems with fractions, they may need to multiply fractions by a whole number (Ex: ½ x 3). They’ll also learn about the concept of decimals and how decimals compare to fractions. For example, how does 0.5 compare to ½? For measurements, they’ll begin to learn ways to convert different measurement units. For example, what is "3 inches" converted to feet? More advanced lessons can also include geometric concepts of lines and angles and how to measure them.

Math Goals: 

• Use the four operations with whole numbers

• Know place value for multi-digit numbers

• Apply place value knowledge to do multi-digit arithmetic

• More knowledge of fractions

• Understand decimals to fractions and comparison

• Factors and multiples

• Measurements

• Geometry: Lines

4th Grade Reading

• Reading Main Topic: Drawing conclusions and summaries, Themes, Story Structure, Narratives
  
  They will be improving their reading fluency. When reading, students should understand and can explain what the text is trying to say and its purpose. They’ll be able to tell you what the passage means in a few sentences. They can highlight different parts of the story, including the problem and solution to events.  When reading, they can self-correct if they make mistakes pronouncing a word. When asked a question, they can point out multiple sentences to support their answer to questions. For new vocabulary, they may pause or stumble or mispronounce words.  Even when they don't know a word, they can still use some context clues within what they read.  When they read a story, they will also begin to realize the overall theme of the book, whether that is themes of courage, friendship, or love. They’ll be able to tell you the difference in whether the story is written in first or third-person perspectives. When the first-person point of view is used, the story is told as if we are the main author. Stories with the first point of view will use words like “I, Me, We”.  Examples of sentences in the first person include, “I was sitting on the kitchen table when the phone rang.”  Another common point of view of stories is the Third person point of view. The third-person point of view tells a story as if it was happening to another person. It will often use words like “he, his, him, she, they”. An example of this would be, “Jake was eating at the table when suddenly the phone rang. See the difference between the two? These are just some of the lessons that your child may encounter while reading.
  
  
  Reading Goals: 

• Comprehension

• Can know the themes of a story and summarize the text

• Describe structure

• Determine the meanings of words and phrases in a text

• Know the difference between first and third-person narratives

4th Grade Action Steps for Parents: 

•  Ask questions about any passage that they just read. Try to ask questions that connect things they’re reading to things to topics they’ve learned in the past or knowledge they’ve learned through other subjects.

• Ask what the word means. When they’ve explained what a word means, ask an additional question to make sure they understand it

• To practice learning about different points of view, try reading a lot of books with your child about the same event but are written in both first-person and third-person perspectives. Try talking to your child about the differences that you both found. 

• Make fractions fun. 

• Practice your child’s fractions with fun pizza time. Use premade grocery store pizzas or make it your own and cut them into different cuts. Show what ⅙ or a pizza looks like vs. ¼. Compare the two.