Fourth Grade Curriculum and Pacing Guides
Keicher Elementary
Fourth Grade Curriculum
The Keicher learning community strives to provide an environment that promotes life-long learning and productive citizens.
Fourth grade teachers adopted this curriculum guide for parents. Listed are the major skills to be achieved and the activities provided for students. It does not, by any means, list all the skills taught nor all the learning opportunities available to our students. Each section indicates some of the minimal skills that most of the students will have mastered by the time they complete this grade. Each child will develop at his or her own rate and instruction is designed with the individual student's needs in mind.
Included as part of this guide are special service opportunities for students. Support services are designed to provide an opportunity for students who need more individual attention in their development because of an identifiable need. Also, nonacademic experiences for students make the elementary curriculum well rounded and complete the cycle of opportunities for students. In addition to the formal class offerings, student programming is further enriched through field trips and assembly programs. Book Fairs, March is Reading Month, Field Day, School Music Program, and a variety of other activities complement the academic program.
The Michigan Center School District strives for academic excellence. Teachers, administrators and support staff are committed to high standards in meeting the needs of boys and girls attending Keicher Elementary School.
Core Beliefs
Michigan Center Schools promote a collaborative learning environment where every student will:
- Be challenged to reach their potential,
- Contribute to a culture of responsibility,
- Be respected and valued as an individual.
Core Values:
Integrity, Respect, Dedication, Loyalty, Teamwork, Trust, Responsibility, Compassion, Honesty and Self Discipline.
Specials
Computers/Library
Students during their computer time will explore a career that is of interest to them. They will use the Career Planet program as well as the Internet sources. Students will produce an autobiography magazine which will incorporate word processing, database and power point presentation. The Inspiration program will help students with their organizational skills for story production. In addition, students will continue working on their typing skills.
We will continue to explore the different genre in literature: adventure, science reality, mystery, history, fantasy, sports, humor and poetry. They will use the reference collection and online sources to extend their research opportunities. Students will also create simple bibliographies using title, author, publisher, place and copyright date.
Physical Education
Elementary students receive an average of 80 minutes of Physical Education instruction per week, taught by a certified PE specialist. The emphasis of the program is on the fitness areas of cardiovascular endurance, strength and flexibility. We are developing an awareness and understanding of these areas of fitness as well as practicing different methods of achieving them through our daily activities. Fitness testing is done in the spring. These tests are: 1) sit and reach for flexibility; 2) sit-up for abdominal strength; 3) flexed arm hand and/or pull-ups for upper arm strength; 4) the mile run for cardiovascular endurance. Time is also spent on basic motor skills, simple games, and lead up games for sports activities.
Music
Students in fourth grade general music learn to sing and play classroom instruments with characteristic tone qualities. They also read, improvise, and compose music using graphic and traditional notation for pitches and rhythms. As their aural skills develop, students audiate tonic and dominant pitches in various keys, and they identify musical forms, string instruments, and chord changes by ear. Students also refine their analytical skills by evaluating and analyzing live performances. The music curriculum is designed to compliment the fourth grade curriculum by making explicit connections with social studies, science, math, and language arts concepts. Special emphasis is placed on highlighting the historical and cultural connections between music and United States history. Students will play recorders by rote and explore increasingly complex musical concepts.
Additional Services
Remedial and academic support services are provided with state and/or federal funds as available. Programs are written by individual building faculties to determine how to best allocate the At Risk and/or Title 1 Grant to meet the needs of underachieving students. Possibilities include paraprofessionals assisting students in classroom, after school tutoring and Pals - Reading/Math Support.
Special Education
Through personnel from the Jackson County Intermediate School District, students who have qualified under various categories- Learning Disabled (LD), Physical or Otherwise Health Impaired (POHI), Hearing-Impaired (HI), Visually Impaired (VI), Speech and Language Impaired (SLI), Educable Mentally Impaired (EMI), and Autistic (AI)-receive appropriate instruction in the least restrictive environment. A Child Study Team meets monthly during the school year to provide services to test students to determine if they are in need of one or more of these additional services: Psychologists, Occupational Therapists and Social Workers.
Counseling
A certified guidance counselor is available for all students. Referrals come from teachers, parents, or students.
The counselor is responsible for developing career awareness in grades first through sixth.
Character Education
The development of your child's character is another important aspect of the educational process. Arnold, Keicher, Clement and the Junior High School have teamed up to incorporate good character into our school day. In all buildings we stress the following Character Education Traits: Friendship/Acceptance, Responsibility, Respect, Compassion/Generosity, Cooperation, Self-Control, Honesty, Individuality, and Perseverance. These traits are organized by month and then discussed in a variety of different ways, including the use of the school counselor, classroom teacher and grade level lessons, as well as assemblies and a sixth grade Character Education special.
We look forward to partnering with our families in providing all students with strong character.
