[育儿] What to Expect in 4th Grade （US）

This is a year of change for your energetic 9 year old. Now she’s full of opinions — and even a little attitude — and may not be as compliant at home as before. Not surprisingly, her schoolwork will become more challenging as teachers begin to prepare for the transition to middle school. This year, more than ever, your child will need to focus on honing the organizational skills necessary to stay on top of her increasing workload.

Skills Required at the Beginning of 4th Grade
Your child’s teacher will expect her to do the following:

Reading
Read grade-level chapter books that can be either applied to school or just for fun
Check out books at the library for personal enjoyment
Use reference books, such as a dictionary or thesaurus, to improve writing
Look up information in a book by using a table of contents, glossary, or index

Writing and Verbal Communication

Write in cursive script (longhand) instead of printing, when requested
Write in paragraph form, using transitions
Use correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar (e.g. verb tenses must agree in sentences)
Understand the writing process: pre-write, outline, draft, revise, edit, and polish
Complete assignments in a variety of writing styles, including informative, creative, and persuasive
Follow written instructions independently
Listen actively to a speaker in the classroom, whether that is the teacher or a fellow student
Answer questions in complete sentences (for example, "I like to play on the monkey bars more than playing kickball because I like to climb," as opposed to "Because I like to climb," or simply "Because.")

Math

Add and subtract numbers to 10,000
Have the multiplication table memorized
Be able to multiply and divide multi-digit numbers by a single-digit number
Identify written and spoken numbers up to 100,000
Estimate and measure length and height
Analyze and graph data
Explain in words how a math problem was solved
Tell time to the nearest minute
Relate number problems to everyday situations (e.g. using a budget to plan a party)

Science

Understand the basics of scientific discovery: How to form a hypothesis and conduct an experiment, then observe, measure, and record results
Retain facts from previous year’s study, such as names and identifying characteristics of the planets
Understand life and water cycles; rudimentary knowledge of weather
History and Social Studies


Read world maps; be able to find locations on the globe
Know the 50 states and their capitals
Retain history facts from previous year
It is important that your child be able to read at grade level and have mastery of basic math skills. At this stage, children are expected to be reading to learn, not learning to read. In addition, math instruction becomes more difficult. If your child has trouble in either of these areas, you may want to consider consulting with a tutor or other educational specialist to help strengthen these skills.

Skills Acquired During 4th Grade
There is definitely a faster pace for teaching in the 4th grade, which will be both exciting and challenging for your child. It's not unusual for lessons in social studies, math, reading, and science to be taught in 30- to 45-minute blocks. In addition, your child’s teacher will likely teach “across the curriculum,” using reading, writing, and math to enhance lessons in other academic subjects. Your child will be expected to accomplish the following over the course of the school year:

Reading

Read a newspaper or grade-level book
Produce projects demonstrating reading comprehension (for example, a book report, poster, diorama, skit, mobile, or book jacket)
Differentiate between fiction and nonfiction
Ask and answer critical questions about characters and plot that explore similarities, contrasts, and hypothetical scenarios
Integrate reading skills with science, social studies, and math
Read aloud in order to improve vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency

Writing and Verbal Communication


Refine cursive handwriting (longhand)
Take notes from reference materials and organize them
Complete longer research assignments, ranging from 3 to 4 pages, supplemented by illustrations (such as graphs or pictures) and at least three outside sources (for example, books, newspapers, and encyclopedias)
Use higher-level vocabulary words, including synonyms and antonyms
Write for a purpose: to explain, to describe, to persuade, to entertain, to list, to express an opinion, etc.
Polish written assignments through revision; correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling mistakes
Participate in group or team projects
Present oral reports
Math


Practice long division with double-digit divisors
Practice multiplication with two- and three-digit numbers
Begin work with fractions and decimals
Calculate perimeter and averages
Use a calculator
Know when and how to incorporate various mathematical operations during problem solving
Understand that there is more than one way to solve a math problem
Become more proficient at “mental math” (doing calculations in her head)
Science


Explore why something happens — for example, why do planets revolve around the sun, or why do plants grow when they are watered?
Analyze, predict, observe, and think scientifically
Explain how an answer to a scientific question is found
History and Social Studies


Know home state history, from learning the state motto to understanding what life was like for the state’s founding settlers
Identify branches of the U.S. government
Know key events and dates studied in American history
Be proficient in United States geography
Read nonfiction books, such as biographies of historical figures, to enhance knowledge
Other Subjects


Maintain healthy habits developed in Health and Physical Education; learn about peer pressure
Learn history and theory in Fine Arts
Your child may begin study of a Foreign Language (varies by school district): vocabulary, reading, and pronunciation as well as the history, culture, and traditions of that particular country
Homework
Expect your child to spend at least 45 to 60 minutes per night on homework. Help her continue the routine she established in previous grades by allocating a quiet place in the house for her to study. There will likely be assigned readings from textbooks, geared to supplement lessons taught in class. Furthermore, there is much more emphasis on developing the ability to analyze and compare. You can help your child by encouraging her to go beyond “who” and “what” questions to examine "why" and "how." Anticipate more long-term projects and reports this year. For example, she may be asked to select a historical figure — a former president for a lesson on elections, or Leonardo da Vinci for a unit on artists — to research over a period of time and later present to the class..