Nestled between the 3rd and 5th grades is our 4th grade portable. Though small in size, our portable does not limit our imagination and exploration!
Welcome to Grade 4! We have 21 students, 3 of which have been identified with exceptionalities (including Autism, ADHD and Dyslexia). These students have IEPs with specific accommodations to better support them in the classroom.
Our small portable has become our Portal to knowledge-building and growth. We created a Portal Promise at the beginning of the year that states we will all strive to be 1) Inclusive 2) Respectful and 3) Cooperative in all aspects of our time in the Portal. The students sit in 'pods' of 3 where they complete individual and group activities. The students can accumulate “pod points” throughout the day for following our Portal Promise which allows the pod with the most points to have first pick on Free Choice Friday each week. This is a great way to promote positive community building in our classroom!
The classroom agenda is fairly structured and synonymous each day. This is a UDL (universal design for learning) approach as it is specifically designed to accommodate my student who has autism, but actually supports the entire classroom at the same time (including myself!). We begin each day with a literacy-based Jump Start activity and snack followed by our morning announcements routine. We then dive right into our curriculum blocks which are usually ordered as language, math, arts, science and social studies. Though listed in isolation, these subjects are often integrated and woven together throughout each unit. The Grade 4s share a particularly excited interest in these themed units that connect each of the subjects. From storybooks to animal tag and nature walks, the students are eager to find and make connections between each of our subject-based activities.
The Grade 4s are busy bodies! They enjoy hands on activities and learning centers as well as movement and body breaks between our curriculum blocks. In our Portal we encourage imagination, inquiry and exploration! After all, the Portal invites us to a whole new world filled with wonder.
*Please note that the class context is fictional*
Welcome to Grade 4! We have 21 students, 3 of which have been identified with exceptionalities (including Autism, ADHD and Dyslexia). These students have IEPs with specific accommodations to better support them in the classroom.
Our small portable has become our Portal to knowledge-building and growth. We created a Portal Promise at the beginning of the year that states we will all strive to be 1) Inclusive 2) Respectful and 3) Cooperative in all aspects of our time in the Portal. The students sit in 'pods' of 3 where they complete individual and group activities. The students can accumulate “pod points” throughout the day for following our Portal Promise which allows the pod with the most points to have first pick on Free Choice Friday each week. This is a great way to promote positive community building in our classroom!
The classroom agenda is fairly structured and synonymous each day. This is a UDL (universal design for learning) approach as it is specifically designed to accommodate my student who has autism, but actually supports the entire classroom at the same time (including myself!). We begin each day with a literacy-based Jump Start activity and snack followed by our morning announcements routine. We then dive right into our curriculum blocks which are usually ordered as language, math, arts, science and social studies. Though listed in isolation, these subjects are often integrated and woven together throughout each unit. The Grade 4s share a particularly excited interest in these themed units that connect each of the subjects. From storybooks to animal tag and nature walks, the students are eager to find and make connections between each of our subject-based activities.
The Grade 4s are busy bodies! They enjoy hands on activities and learning centers as well as movement and body breaks between our curriculum blocks. In our Portal we encourage imagination, inquiry and exploration! After all, the Portal invites us to a whole new world filled with wonder.
*Please note that the class context is fictional*