Grade 4

Classroom Teachers for 2022    
4B - Jess Ballard,  4O/D - Britt Daffy /Karly O'Toole,  4D/P Neiks Doble/Laurel Prowse,  4L - Mel Lowther

Welcome to Term 2

Welcome back to Term Two in Grade Four
We are so proud of the growth we have seen so far in all our wonderful students and are so keen to jump in to Term Two! 

We have a jam packed term ahead, with lots of opportunities for our students to thrive and shine. Please keep a close eye on our Dojo pages, Facebook and the school newsletter for dates, information and reports on the wonderful things our students get up to!

​If you have any queries, please don't hesitate
to contact your classroom teacher on ClassDojo. 

What's on in our week
Monday - Library (all grades)
Wednesday - PE, Music/Drama, Chinese
Thursday - Art (4OD  & 4DP), Grade 4 Sport
Friday - Assembly, Art (4B & 4L)

Term Two Overview

Reading
Students will be continuing to receive individual learning goals  and conversing regularly with the teacher regarding their reading journey. In class, we are focusing on learning to infer (the ability to read between the lines in the text) details about the setting, mood and characters. We will also be focusing on how authors get their messages across by word choice and connectives.
 
  How can you help? 
  • Listen to your child read 5 nights a week and initial the diary at the end of the week. This data is collected on Fridays and is used to provide students with reading mileage certificates.
  • Encourage independent reading often.
  • Modelling: Talk about the books you’ve read or read one together!
 
Writing 
In class, students will be looking closely at narrative stories. We will be focussing on including descriptive details, dialogue and enhancing our sentence fluency (short and complex sentences) within our written pieces.
We will also be focusing on Explanation and Procedural Writing this term. Students will be learning to explain how or why something happens, giving reasons to support as well as creating precise and clear instructions that can be easily followed.
 
  How can you help?  
  • Read books aloud and discuss the descriptive words that have been used
  • Create voices for characters and add expression when sharing the reading role at home
  • Have children help out around the home by following a recipe or a set of instructions
  • Explain how things work around the home (coffee machines, toasters, rules, reward charts etc.)
 
Maths
In Maths, we will be continuing with an Inquiry approach where students will be developing effective strategies to solve problems efficiently.
Students will be looking at the connection between Multiplication & Division, how to count collections of money and calculate change as well as using strategies and techniques to solve the area of shapes.
 
 How can you help?
  • Have your child share items around the house equally (food, lollies, etc)
  • Encourage children to set the table. How many plates, spoons, cutlery are needed? How can I find the total without counting by ones?
  • Have your child measure 2D 4-sided shapes around the home. How can I use the length of each side to find the area?
Spelling
This term we will be focussed on the 6 types of syllables and how they can be used to read and spell unfamiliar words. This will include open and closed syllables, r-controlled syllables and consonant –le syllables. We will also look at how to add prefixes and suffixes to word bases. Spelling sessions will be intertwined within our daily literacy program. As educators, we understand that if students can spell words effectively and understand their meaning on a deeper level, this will then be transferred into their reading and writing abilities and achievements.

 How can you help?  
  • Talk to your child about the focus of the week.
  • We will be updating families of the spelling rules and patterns we are learning in the classroom and we would love if this is practiced in the home.
  • Encourage your child to spell words that they come across when reading and ask them to identify the syllables and the spelling rules that apply.
Wellbeing
Following the RRRR (Resilience, Rights and  Respectful Relationships) Program, we will cover stress management and help seeking strategies. We will also develop interpersonal skills through Wilson McCaskill games and challenges, as well as practicing mindfulness meditation through the Smiling Minds program.
 
How can you help?
  • Support your child to use calming and coping strategies such as breathing, exercise, drawing or writing about it. 
  • Encourage your child to verbalise when they need help.
Topic Studies - Inquiry unit—Caine's Arcade & Heating/Melting Unit
For the first half of the term, Students will be designing their own cardboard arcade games following a six step Engineering Design process. Later in the term, Students will be exploring how a change of state between solid and liquid can be caused by adding or removing heat. 

 How can you help?
Please begin collecting boxes and cardboard around the home to bring into school. Please save larger boxes until closer to the design stage—this will be communicated to parents.