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Grade 4
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

One of the reasons I enjoy teaching fourth grade is that students begin to move away from concrete to more abstract ideas. Students in fourth grade are really able to do some critical thinking about themselves and the world around them. They ask the best questions, and they also demand the best answers! Fourth graders are ready to take on more responsibility, and so I aim to "set the bar high" as far as my expectations for their learning. I try my best to make our classroom a challenging, but fun, environment where students can learn and care for one another. It is also important to me that the students live by the Saint Mary's mission and strive to be respectful, reverent, and responsible individuals.
 
We study many things in fourth grade, but there are several themes that reoccur throughout the year. Whether we are studying the regions of the United States, the Ten Commandments, or earth movements (to name a few of our topics), the themes of courage, friendship, and responsibility are never forgotten. Students in fourth grade also begin to benefit from our school's partnership with the organization Facing History and Ourselves. Students begin to examine historical events and think about how these past events affect us and can influence our behavior today.
 
In fourth grade, there is also a change in our tri-annual reporting procedures, and students receive letter grades that correspond to a numerical average for the first time of their report cards. Students are often excited by this switch in reporting style and look forward to earning their first "A". I try to use a number of different assessments in class so that students have a variety of ways to demonstrate what they have learned. These assessments can include individual and group projects, field and performance exams, as well as the traditional written test or quiz. Because students are also taking more written tests than in the primary grades, test-taking strategies and study skills are taught and reviewed in class. We review strategies such as using flashcards and mnemonic devices. I also encourage students to take notes, stay organized, and be an active part of the class. Students begin to develop good study skills in fourth grade, and they take these skills with them as they proceed onto higher grades
 
Following graduation from Providence College, Renée Poirier Carchedi spent a year in Chicago teaching for AmeriCorps and a year working in a special education classroom in her Connecticut hometown. Renée has been a member of the Saint Mary faculty since September 1999 and along the way she's earned a master's degree in English as a Second Language from Simmons College, and in her spare time, studies Kempo Karate. She is married to college classmate John Carchedi.