What to expect from different grades

• Fourth Grade
• Fifth Grade

Getting Ready for Fourth Grade at Pierce

This year (2005/2006) the Pierce school council has been promoting introductions to our teachers and specialists through articles in the Broadsheet and website. To continue with our goal of helping to connect families and school, we interviewed the fourth grade teacher team; Joe Luongo, Nancy Springer, and Susan Harvey. We hope this helps families learn more about what to expect in the 4th grade at Pierce.

Transition to Fourth Grade

Fourth grade is a time for new independence and new responsibilities. Students are expected to work more independently, they assume more responsibility for their materials as well as for assignment completion. Much of the learning is content-driven, students work in more depth in the areas of social studies and science, for example. In fourth grade most students are “reading to learn” whereas in earlier grades students are often “learning to read.”

Special Programs

Fourth grade includes the specialists’ classes such as Art, Physical Education and Music. In addition to the regular Music class, there is also an “Instrumental” program where students choose a specific instrument to study. They then participate in weekly school-based lessons for their instrument. Instruments are available through a school-based rental program. After studying an instrument during the year students then perform in a final spring concert.

Communication With Parents

As always, parents are encouraged to communicate with teachers through telephone calls and notes. Teachers send home all notices in student folders either on a daily basis or once a week.

Understanding Disabilities Program

The Understanding Disabilities program is a town-wide initiative through which students learn about several different kinds of disabilities. The four-session program features “preview sessions” where students study a disability. This is followed by an “in-house field trip” with hands-on activities and guest speakers. Fourth grade parents volunteer to coordinate this exciting part of the curriculum. They attend a training session for each unit of study and guide student discussions and activities.

Fourth Grade MCAS

There are a wide variety of ways that student work is assessed in the fourth grade. One of the assessments is the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS). Students in the fourth grade take the English Language Arts (Reading), Long Composition (Writing) and Math portion of the MCAS. The test is an un-timed assessment that spans several days in both March and May. Fourth grade teachers note that it is especially helpful for parents to help children get a good night’s sleep and solid breakfast during these testing sessions.

Written by Cass Miller and Cherie Gaehde - Pierce School Council Members - February 2006

What’s Up for Fifth Grade?

We interviewed Cheryl Klausner, Sara Marx, and Rhodinne Wang, the three fifth grade teachers.

The main focus of this challenging year is improving organizational skills, budgeting time for long-term assignments and absorbing more complex material.

Teachers emphasize study habits and individual responsibility for material both in class and at home.

There are no grades given in fifth grade except on individual projects and tests. Homework is expected to take approximately one hour, with an additional 30 minute reading time.

Thursday folders are the basis for parent-teacher communication, supplemented by email, notes or phone calls, depending on the teacher.

Students take MCAS in four subjects: math, reading, science and social studies.

The fourth grade instrument program continues but students may also choose chorus instead. (The instrument program is, however, threatened by town-wide school budget cuts.)

One of the highlights of fifth grade has been a traditional field trip to the Marblehead tidepools. Students collect specimens for the classroom and create a science project of their own.

By the end of fifth grade most students have mastered the organizational skills and independent study habits to prepare them for a successful transition to the pivotal sixth grade year.

Written by Gigi Wizowaty and Cherie Gaehde - Pierce School Council Members - March 2006 (updated October 2006)