Fourth Grade--Celebrating a Year of Growth

Welcome to an insightful episode for fourth-grade families! Today, we have the privilege of hosting the fourth-grade teaching team, who are excited to share their experiences and observations on how your children have grown, faced challenges, and witnessed God's movement in the classroom. We look forward to offering you an overall perspective of a remarkable year.

4th Grade Teaching Team: Shanna Ketchum, Terri Dobson, Kaitlyn Eastman

We begin with introductions from the teaching team. Mrs. Kaitlyn Eastman, who has been with PCA for eight years, expresses her joy in teaching science and observing the students' creativity. Ms. Shanna Ketchum, with a decade at PCA and 15 years of teaching experience, cherishes building relationships with her students and understanding their unique personalities. Ms. Terri Dobson highlights the collaborative spirit among the students, emphasizing teamwork and mutual respect.

Mrs. Eastman discusses student growth, particularly in math, where students showed significant improvement in both growth and achievement metrics. She explains how changes in the math curriculum and the introduction of tools like Math Accelerator have enhanced student engagement and understanding. The focus on individual and small group learning has contributed to this remarkable progress.

Ms. Dobson addresses the challenges students faced, particularly in writing. The transition from third to fourth grade involves a significant increase in writing expectations. The new curriculum, Simplify Writing, has been instrumental in breaking down the writing process into manageable parts. Students have embraced peer support and teacher guidance, resulting in impressive writing achievements, including original fairy tales and state research reports.

Ms. Ketchum shares insights on students' spiritual growth. She highlights their enthusiasm and ownership during chapel preparations and their curiosity during Bible lessons. The students' thoughtful questions about faith and scripture demonstrate their deepening understanding and spiritual development. Ms. Ketchum also notes the privilege of witnessing individual students' spiritual journeys, including baptisms and recognition for Christ-centeredness.

As the school year concludes, the teaching team expresses mixed feelings about sending their students to fifth grade. They are excited to see the students take on leadership roles in the lower school, continue to grow creatively, and engage in various extracurricular activities. The fourth-grade team reflects on the students' readiness for new challenges and their potential to excel in the next academic year.

In closing, the teachers share what incoming fourth graders can look forward to, including the Narnia study, the opportunity to have different teachers for specific subjects, and engaging in exciting projects across various disciplines. The team expresses their gratitude for the students, families, and each other, wishing everyone a restful and fulfilling summer break.