Fourth grade at Rolesville Elementary is an exciting year filled with stimulating learning activities.  The fourth grade curriculum is composed of  many challenging concepts, but the fourth grade teachers plan meaningful and relevant lessons to ensure student success.

All of Rolesville Elementary, as well as fourth grade will be using  Standards based grading this year.  This means you will no longer  see letters for grades on your students work. A P will be placed on papers completed in class as practice, if there are no additional comments on the paper it is acceptable.  Comments will be placed students practice papers if improvement is needed.  All students will be receiving either an interim or progress report in the first and third quarters.  Only those students who are not up to grade level requirements will receive interim reports in the second and third quarters.  You will be seeing grades of 1, 2, 3, or 4 on students graded work.  A 1 means this work is inadequate; the student has failed to grasp the concept. A 2 means this work is inconsistent; the student is beginning to grasp the concept, but not quite able to fully understand.   A 3 means this work has shown adequate knowledge of the objective(s) assessed.  A 4 means this work has not only shown adequate knowledge, but also gone beyond and applied or extended this objective(s).  A3* will appear only on the report card.  This shows full comprehension of these objectives over extended time and verging onto the 4 level. requirements.  

 We are using a comprehensive reading program that targets students' needs at various levels.  The fourth-graders have been divided  into flexible groups to receive differentiated appropriated instruction.  All students learn fourth grade material; however, the lessons are designed according to their specific needs.  Students read high-interest material from the basal, grade-appropriate novels, and leveled text.

All fourth-graders must take the State writing test in the early spring; therefore, the language arts curriculum strives to connect reading and writing across the curriculum.  In order to assist students with writing, teachers plan engaging mini lessons and provide many opportunities to write, conference, revise, and publish paragraphs, poems, stories, and reports.  A parent meeting will be held to give parents information regarding the state writing expectationas.

Math Trailblazers is the new math program that has been adopted in Wake County.  The fourth grade math curriculum focuses on problem solving, students learn a variety of strategies to help them understand and solve complex problems.  Fourth-graders are expected to add, subtract, and multiply with multi-digit numbers and divide with single-digit divisors.  They also study geometry, patterns data collection and graphing, probability measurement, variables and values.  Each day teachers assign Daily Practice Problems to practice skills that help students master the concepts.  Students use many manipulatives and appropriate technology to help apply math in the real world.  Math Trailblazers encourages students to develop varied ways to solve problems through the many activities.

The focus for fourth grade Science is to think and analyze in terms of systems.  Students build an understanding of animal growth and adaptation concepts, the composition and uses of rocks and minerals, electricity and magnetism, and food chemiastry.  Through the study of these topics, students learn to predict, observe and record results of simple experiments and generate ideas to solve simple problems.  In February, they put these skills to use when they participate in Rolesville Elementary School's annual Science Fair. 

In social studies, fourth-graders explore the five themes of geography through the study of North Carolina.  In addition to lessons from their social studies text, students learn about their state through hands-on desk maps and field trips to our museums.  They make dioramas, postcards, and travel brochures.  

Fourth grade is a transition year in which the children become more independent and self-motivated.  Our hope is that the students leave fourth grade confident in their abilities and eager to reach their goals.

Fourth Grade Field Trips!

The fourth grade will be going on three field trips for the school year of 2005-2006.  Our first field trip will be in November when we visit the North Carolina Museums of Science and History.  Students will learn about the Natural Resources, minerals, rocks, and other natural gems. They will also visit booths staffed by members of  North Carolina's 7 recognized Native American Tribes. Students will learn about the Native American way of life.

In April, the fourth graders and Mrs. Kris will travel to see the North Carolina Symphony.  Mrs. Kris will be carrying on a tradition at Rolesville by escorting the fourth graders to see a fantastic musical composition.

Finally, the fourth graders will be take an all day field trip in April. We will visit Mc Culloch Gold Mine in Jamestown, NC. While there we will pan for gems, tour the rock quarry and visit Castle McCulloch.

Submitted by the Fourth Grade Team                                                                    

J Giandenoto

L. McNeil                                                                       

K. Krandel                                                                            

R. Hills