Welcome to the Fourth Grade and to DeSoto Trail's 36th year in providing a quality education for children.  Our theme this year is "Change the World: Mark Your Mark"  In fourth grade, look forward to a year filled with learning and excitement. Expectations are higher and the workload is tougher, but the rewards are many. This year the children will become more organized and independent in preparation for the fifth grade.  Students will also learn how to navigate many new and engaging digital programs that will be used to supplement their learning during this unusual time in our history.

Fourth graders will continue to develop reading strategies and skills through instruction focusing on the BEST Standards and using our reading program "My View-Savvas." Writing lessons will focus on explanatory and persuasive essays with an emphasis on text evidence and proper language mechanics and conventions. Fourth grade students are encouraged to participate in the Accelerated Reader Program. Many incentives and activities have been put in place by the 4th grade teachers to encourage the children to read, grow, and develop a “LOVE” for reading.

We are teaching the Florida BEST Standards using the GO! Math program where the children continue to develop a growth mind set as they daily meet the many challenges of the curriculum. We will cover place value, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, factors, multiples, and patterns, adding, subtracting, and multiplying fractions, decimals, mean, median, mode, line plots, geometry, measurement, and finding area and perimeter. Algebra is embedded in every strand.  Go!Math also has an excellent online component.  In order to succeed in 4th grade math, it is imperative that students have mastered their basic multiplication facts!

To bring to life the history of Florida, fourth grade students will embark on field trips to the Old Capitol, the New Capitol, the John G. Riley House, Mission San Luis, and St. Augustine. We will use a variety of resources to teach our students all about Florida’s geography and history.

The Florida State Science Standards will be taught using the Florida Science curriculum.  Students will learn about the nature of science, Earth’s place in space, rocks, minerals, and resources, matter and properties (emphasis on magnets), forces and motion, heat and energy, and organisms and their environment.  The online component of Florida Science is comprehensive and will assist us in teaching the standards.

As you can see, fourth grade is a busy year, but it is a year filled with fun! You can expect to see your child make significant gains in their education. DeSoto Trail is an amazing elementary school and continues to challenge our students to blaze a successful trail to the future. Thank you for partnering with us in making this a great year for your child.