Mrs. McCullough's Fourth Grade Classroom
Elms Road Elementary School Phone # (810) 591-1251
Swartz Creek, Michigan Classroom Phone (810) 591-1271
e-mail address Kay McCullough Scroll down and find my name under Elms staff listing.
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Fourth grade is a transition year. For many, it is the first year that children have had science and social studies tests. The children need to learn HOW to study. Our curriculum at fourth grade is packed. In math alone, we have seventy-two new Grade Level Content Expectations (GLCE's) that I must try to help all children master. My plan is that all children will master all seventy-two math GLCE's. For some children, I also try to fill in any gaps that they may have missed in earlier years.
Reading and writing does not have as many GLCE's, but the ultimate goal for all children is that they are able to comprehend a variety of genres and apply the information to their lives in a useful way. To do this, the children must be able to recognize the text structure patterns found in both fiction and nonfiction. They must use various reading strategies to aid reading comprehension. The children must also increase their vocabulary. Some children will need to learn word attack skills and increase reading fluency. In writing, the children will need to express themselves clearly using conventional spelling, punctuation and grammar. The children will study various author's techniques so that they will be able to incorporate some of the same methods as authors into their own writing.
We have a mountain of goals and work to cover in fourth grade, and I do my best to help each child reach the top of that mountain. I am looking forward to parent teacher conference next week to share with parents how I plan to do this. I will share information about the various assessments that I have done and my plan for helping your child.
Reading and writing does not have as many GLCE's, but the ultimate goal for all children is that they are able to comprehend a variety of genres and apply the information to their lives in a useful way. To do this, the children must be able to recognize the text structure patterns found in both fiction and nonfiction. They must use various reading strategies to aid reading comprehension. The children must also increase their vocabulary. Some children will need to learn word attack skills and increase reading fluency. In writing, the children will need to express themselves clearly using conventional spelling, punctuation and grammar. The children will study various author's techniques so that they will be able to incorporate some of the same methods as authors into their own writing.
We have a mountain of goals and work to cover in fourth grade, and I do my best to help each child reach the top of that mountain. I am looking forward to parent teacher conference next week to share with parents how I plan to do this. I will share information about the various assessments that I have done and my plan for helping your child.
Bring to School
Please have your child bring to school a zip lock baggy with two cups of flour and one cup of salt. We are planning on making an elevation relief map of Michigan. We will mix the rest of the ingredients into the baggy. As soon as all of the children bring in the ingredients, we will make the maps. If you would like to bring in an extra baggy for those who forget, it would be appreciated.
Vacation on Mars
After school play practice for "Vacation on Mars" will begin on Tuesday, October 27. This play is a musical about a family who plan to go to Mars on vacation, but keep landing on the wrong planet. On the trip, the family finds out about all of the other planets. We will perform the play in front of the school and have one evening performance on December 15 at 6:00 PM.
In a Nut Shell,
What We Are Studying
Math
Estimating
Double digit addition and subtraction
Review
Social Studies
Map Skills
Immigration
Reading
Story Structure -setting, protagonist,
antagonist, conflict, inciting force, events,
resolution, theme
Analyzing characters and characters' motives
Guided Reading Groups
Increasing Fluency
Writing
Fantasy Writing
Five Finger Detail (Character description,
character action, dialogue, thoughtshots,
developing setting)
Lead sentence
Grammar
Nouns
Pronouns
Verbs
Capitalization
Sentence structure
Science
properties of matter
measurement
graphing
Word Study
prefixes
suffixes
Homophones
No excuse words
Estimating
Double digit addition and subtraction
Review
Social Studies
Map Skills
Immigration
Reading
Story Structure -setting, protagonist,
antagonist, conflict, inciting force, events,
resolution, theme
Analyzing characters and characters' motives
Guided Reading Groups
Increasing Fluency
Writing
Fantasy Writing
Five Finger Detail (Character description,
character action, dialogue, thoughtshots,
developing setting)
Lead sentence
Grammar
Nouns
Pronouns
Verbs
Capitalization
Sentence structure
Science
properties of matter
measurement
graphing
Word Study
prefixes
suffixes
Homophones
No excuse words
Dates to Remember
Every Monday- Home Reading Log due
Friday- spelling test (words posted under more)
Every Tuesday play practice- Pick your child up at 4:45.
11-06-09 1/2 day Grades 1-5 Records Day
11-9-09 Parent / Teacher Conference 5-8 PM
11-11-09 Parent / Teacher Conference
1-3:30 PM and 5-7 PM
1/2 day grades 1-5
11-13-09 No school Grades K-12
11-26-09 Thanksgiving No school
11-27-09 No school
12-15-09 Evening Play Performance 6:00 PM
Every Monday- Home Reading Log due
Friday- spelling test (words posted under more)
Every Tuesday play practice- Pick your child up at 4:45.
11-06-09 1/2 day Grades 1-5 Records Day
11-9-09 Parent / Teacher Conference 5-8 PM
11-11-09 Parent / Teacher Conference
1-3:30 PM and 5-7 PM
1/2 day grades 1-5
11-13-09 No school Grades K-12
11-26-09 Thanksgiving No school
11-27-09 No school
12-15-09 Evening Play Performance 6:00 PM
Daily Schedule
Every day -11:50 recess
12:10 lunch
Monday-11:05-11:50-Art
Tuesday-9:35-10:20-
Physical Education
Remember your gym shoes
Wednesday-9:35-10:20-Art
Thursday-9:40-10:25-Techology
1:00 library –
Remember your library book
Friday-9:35-10:20-Physical Education
Remember your gym shoes
Every day -11:50 recess
12:10 lunch
Monday-11:05-11:50-Art
Tuesday-9:35-10:20-
Physical Education
Remember your gym shoes
Wednesday-9:35-10:20-Art
Thursday-9:40-10:25-Techology
1:00 library –
Remember your library book
Friday-9:35-10:20-Physical Education
Remember your gym shoes
Grade Level Content Expectations
Below are links to the fourth grade level content expectations provided by the Michigan Government specifically written for parents. Teachers commonly refer to these grade level content expectations as GLCE's pronounced "glicks."








