Literacy is key to establishing the foundation of all learning as students are able to integrate their skills across reading, writing, spelling, listening, speaking, and constructing meaning from text:

* use letter/sound association (phonics)

* use reading strategies to decode words and meaning

* infer word meaning from base words, prefixes, and suffixes

* read orally with fluency and expression

* fluent readers will read 115-125 words correct inone minute

2. Understand word meaning.

* to identify main character, setting, events, problems and solution, in a story

* use engaging vocabulary

* understand word meaning through the use ofstory context

* use word association

* read silently for longer periods of time

* read to comprehend information (textbooks, encyclopedias, reference materials)

* use indexes, tables of contents, card catalogues to locate materials

* analyze texts for specific purposes

* read for enjoyment and entertainment

* use specific strategies for gaining meaning from text

* compare and contrast two or more pieces of writing

* read longer selections and books independently

* connect reading to own and real life experiences

WASHINGTON STATE ESSENTIAL LEARNINGS IN MATHEMATICS as approved by the Washington State Commission on Student Learning.

* understand and apply the concepts and procedures of mathematics.

* use mathematics to define and solve problems.

* communicate knowledge and understanding in both everyday and mathematical language.

* understand how mathematical ideas connect to the other subject areas and real-like situations.

As the fourth grade students in the Eatonville School District work toward achieving the essential learnings in math they will have an opportunity to:

1. Ideas - the "heart" of the message, the content of the piece, the main theme, together with all the details that enrich and develop that theme.

2. Organization - the internal structure of the piece of writing. The student focuses on one idea in the writing.

3. Voice - the writer coming through the words, the sense of the real person speaking to us about the topic.

4. Word Choice - the use of rich, colorful, precise language. The vocabulary of the message creates, enlightens, persuades, clarifies, or paints pictures in the reader’s mind.

5. Sentence Fluency - the rhythm and flow of the language and the sound of word patterns as they are read aloud.

6. Conventions - those items we look for in editing: spelling, grammar and usage, paragraphs, use of capitals, and punctuation.

7. Presentation – publishing the work.

* to use the various phases of six trait writing and tell which phase they are using

* to develop their own topics in writing

* to write for a variety of purposes and share the writing with others

• Use flash cards or games for continued practice of basic facts (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division).
• Practice making change.
• Measure objects around the house (length, weight, and volume).
• Keep track of the weather on a thermometer.
• Look for shapes and their purposes in the environment.
• Find graphs in magazines or the newspaper and interpret the information with your child.
• Create word problems.
• Connect math skills to areas of family life.
• Practice telling time using an analog clock.

Be your child’s best audience - an enthusiastic listener. Encourage your child’s writing by writing notes, letters, invitations, and thank-yous. Provide writing materials of all kinds - colors, textures, and sizes. As your child writes, focus on their ideas and content. When they have all the ideas together and organized, then work on editing. Identify reasons to write - to inform (family letter), to persuade, or to entertain (create a play or write a poem). Provide your child with a dictionary and a thesaurus (book of synonyms).