MRS. MICKONIS 
Welcome to Room A219! Often in my classroom I carry the same theme through all of the subjects we are currently studying. For example, if we are learning about the history of the Southeast we will be reading a story about slaves escaping from the Southeast on the Underground Railroad, and then looking for examples of irregular verbs in the same story. Then, in math, the children will solve word problems based on slavery, and in science they will talk about constellations, which the slaves used to guide them on their way north. I feel children are more likely to remember their lessons if they are immersed in what they are learning, so that is why I try to tie my subjects together.
I also feel writing and reading go hand-in-hand, so many times my students
write short stories based on one of the stories we have read in class.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| daily homework | subject summaries | classroom news | future assignments | websites for kids |
  |
||||
| student writing samples 3-D Word Projects | ||||
Today's Homework RemindersReading Students will need to have a book for silent reading. They may bring a grade level appropriate book from home, or choose one from my classroom library.
Spelling Students will need to use 10 of the Unit 1, Week 1 spelling words in sentences by Monday for spelling homework. They will have a test on their spelling words next Monday as well.
Math Students do not have any math homework today.
Language Arts Students do not have a Language Arts assignment tonight.
Science All students must have the 14 definitions for Unit 1 copied into their green science notebooks by tomorrow.
Social Studies Students have a paper with the 13 definitions for the Geography Magazine. They will need to have these copied into their red notebooks. If they complete these by tomorrow, they earn 5 bonus points in social studies.
Subject
Information
Reading: The St. Clair School District uses the Reading Street textbook series in grades 1 through 6. This textbook focuses on the new Pennsylvania Core Standards that students will be tested on during the PSSA tests in the spring. In fourth grade, we emphasize figurative language and higher level thinking skills like inferencing, drawing conclusions, and analyzing story elements like characters, setting, and plot. We will still be using some of the novel sets that the district has to supplement the textbook series.
| Bunnicula is a science fiction story about a family that finds a rabbit at a Dracula movie. When their cat and dog meet the newest addition to the family, the cat is convinced that the bunny is a vampire. The students love the funny antics that follow as the cat tries to rid the family of the danger and the dog tries to save his new friend from getting killed and his old friend from being kicked out. | Thank You, Jackie Robinson is a story about a young boy in 1947 who loves the Brooklyn Dodgers and his older, African-American friend, Davy. This historical fiction book introduces students to the people who put an end to the color barrier in Major League Baseball, and the prejudices they had to overcome. Baseball knowledge is optional when reading this story. |
| We will try to coordinate reading Top Secret with science lessons on photosynthesis, because in this story a young boy turn himself into a plant for his science project. That's right, a plant, complete with green skin and aphids. Will his discovery solve the world's hunger problem? Does he ever turn back into a regular food-consuming ten year-old? You'll have to read the story to find out. | Chocolate Fever is very similar to Top Secret in that a boy undergoes mysterious physical changes. This time, though, he turns into a walking chocolate bar! Somehow our chocolate friend, Henry Green, manages to escape from a hospital, foil a robbery, and turn himself back into a regular nine year-old. Students will find out in this comical story, that you actually can have too much of a good thing, even chocolate. |
| Freedom Crossing is another historical fiction novel that exposes children to the plight of slaves trying to escape from their masters. The slave on the run is only twelve years old and the abolitionists who help him are also teenagers, so students get to look at this event through the eyes of children close to their own age. This story is filled with suspense; sometimes I can't get the kids to leave when we're reading it. | I Have a Dream is the biography of Martin Luther King Jr. This book takes students through Martin's first experience with segregation when he was six years old, his discovery of peaceful ways to protest, his leadership role during the Civil Rights Protests in the South, and his assassination in Memphis. While reading the book the kids take part in a discrimination project that gives them some idea of what it was like to be treated unfairly because of who you are. |
| The Titanic Sinks gives the students a taste of nonfiction. The novel introduces the students to the actual crew and passengers on the doomed ship, and takes them through its tragic voyage from start to finish. Although it contains only facts, it is written like a novel. Even though most of the children know the ending, they still find it suspenseful, as they wait to see who survives and who perishes. | Stone Fox is an example of realistic fiction set in the West. A young boy named Willy must somehow find a way to raise enough money to pay the taxes on his grandfather's potato farm or lose his home. He decides to enter a local dogsled race to win the prize money despite the fact he has only his pet, Searchlight, to pull his sled. Students can't wait to find out if Willy and Searchlight can beat Stone Fox and his team of dogs. |
Math:
In fourth grade math we are going to concentrate on developing students' problem solving skills, while reinforcing the importance of mastering basic math facts. We will have daily math exercises to start each class to keep our brains in good math condition. We use a math series called Ready Math! to help us meet the rigorous requirements of PA Common Core standards. The students will write in their books to practice basic skills, and then they will use real life resources to demonstrate how these math skills are put into practice in everyday life. Students will take a diagnostic at the beginning of the year which will place them on their individualized path on the iReady app. This will assign lessons at their appropriate math level . 
Social Studies:
Our fourth grade social studies program focuses on the United States. We
divide the country into five regions, the Northeast, the Southeast, the Midwest, the Southwest, and the West. Then we study each region's geography, its history, and what life is like in that region today. The students are required to identify each state in the region on a map and name its capital. Students are also required to answer essay questions on each test to reinforce their writing skills.
We are also learning about the great state of Pennsylvania.
The students have textbooks which focus on the rich history of their home
state as well as the landforms and resources Pennsylvania has to offer. 
English:
The English program in fourth grade covers the basic parts of speech including nouns, verbs, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, and conjunctions.
We also focus on correct punctuation and capitalization when writing.
The students will have grammar lessons in conjunction with the new reading series, but they will also practice grammar rules by writing original letters, paragraphs, and short stories.
We believe that when you focus on writing, the students think about the
rules more carefully than if they were just filling in the blanks of a
workbook. 
Science:
The Science program in fourth grade covers a variety of topics.
We will be learning about the solar system, scientific classification, ecosystems, states of matter, photosynthesis, climate, electricity, and much more.
We will be using a number of different resources to study these subjects including our textbook, Kids Discover Magazine, and internet resources. Students will be creating various charts and diagrams to show what they've learned. 
Classroom
News4-Red Special Subjects' Schedule We will be using a 6-Day Cycle at St. Clair Elementary this year. The first week of school, Monday, August 24, 2026 will be "Day 1" of the cycle, Tuesday will be "Day 2" of the cycle, Wednesday is "Day 3," Thursday, will be "Day 4" and Friday will be "Day 5". The following Monday (of the second week of school) will be "Day 6." Tuesday of the second week will be "Day 1" of the second cycle and we will continue with this pattern for the remainder of the year. This cycle will also be printed on the monthly lunch menu.
September 14, 2026 will be Picture Day for 4th Grade students. All students will be photographed for the yearbook even if you don't intend to but school pictures, so have your child dress for the pictures.
Different Information
Future
Assignments
The following are due dates for some of your child's assignments.
Please note that they may be changed if circumstances in school create
a need to extend some of the dates.
This project is currently on hold due to the change in our reading series this year. If this project is assigned this year, a paper with instructions and due dates will be sent home with the students. In the past, each marking period students were required to complete 3-D Word Projects. The projects turned in by students in past years were awesome! Check out some of these projects on the 3-D Word Projects Page.
In math class we will begin the year with a review of place value, the value of different digits, comparing numbers, adding and subtracting 6-digit numbers and rounding.
In English class we will be learning to recognize and write declarative, interrogative, imperative and exclamatory sentences.
In science class we begin the year learning to think like a scientist and finding out how to plan fair test experiments.
Fourth grade social studies focuses on the geography of the United States. The first magazine is titled "Geography" and will help students learn about latitude and longitude and the different geographic features found on Earth.
In reading class we will read a story titled "Lewis and Clark and Me" which follows part of the Lewis and Clark journey but is narrated by a dog on the trip with them. This will be found in our reading textbook.
Different Information
Websites
for Kids
These are some sites I use when I am teaching about different
subjects in reading, science, or social studies. These are links, so if you click on one of these words you will leave this page and go to that site.
This is a site I like to visit just for fun.
Different Information
Link to the St. Clair Elementary/Middle School homepage
Striving for Excellence