One God, One Faith, One School

      Fourth Grade with Mrs. Lisa Galbraith



      My Commitment
      I truly believe God has called me to teach in a Catholic School and I take this responsibility very seriously. The world is desperately in need of people of faith, peace, hope, joy, and love. It is my desire to offer all of that to any student who walks through our school doors. God has created each of us in His own image and we all deserve to be treated with respect. As a teacher I will embrace the beliefs of our faith and share them openly with every child. I will offer them opportunities that will help them to grow spiritually, academically, emotionally, and socially. Children will be challenged to discover their gifts and learn to share them with others. Each day we will walk with Jesus and build up the kingdom of God.
       

      About Me
      I am excited to be teaching 4th grade this year.  I will be beginning my 12th year of teaching at IHM-St. Casimir School in the coming fall.  I have taught 2nd, 4th, and 5th Grades as well as Physical Education to students in every grade level

      My educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, a teaching Certificate and a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Teaching (all from Michigan State University). I guess you could say I am a Spartan through and through! Go Green/Go White!  I also received my Advanced Catechist Certification through the Diocese of Lansing.

      I am happily married and the proud mother of three sons. My oldest is a junior at Kettering University, my middle son is a sophomore at Michigan State University (go figure), and my youngest son is enrolled as a freshman at Kettering University.

      I have a strong passion and love of animals with two dogs of my own and look forward to opening a very special "doggie day care/kennel" in my retirement years. I enjoy spending time with my family and love watching our Detroit sports teams play . . . and win!

      Thank you for choosing IHM - St. Casimir School for your child's education. I look forward to an awesome year!
       

      Fourth Grade Curriculum
       

          Religion:
      Our text is called Faith First, Legacy Edition. It is built upon three foundations:  The Word of God clearly expressed in Scripture and the Church's Tradition, Worship and Prayer, and the Call to Service for the Kingdom of God. We also learn Catholic prayers and practices, celebrate the Liturgical seasons, and learn more about the saints and sacraments, as well as grow in our faith.

      Literacy:

      • Reading: Students will increase word recognition by learning to use word decoding and comprehension strategies. They will engage in independent reading, guided/literature circle reading groups, and shared reading. They will also identify the defining characteristics for both narrative and informational text.
      • Writing/English:  Students will use the writing process and the 6 + 1 Traits of Good Writing in their everyday writing. They will produce a summary of key points, a narrative piece, a comparative essay, and a research project. Grammar will be identified and used. We'll also be using the Sitton Spelling program to encourage mastery of core words and language development. D'Nealian handwriting will be reviewed and used.
      • Speaking/Presenting: Students will learn the elements of planning and delivering presentations and telling stories.
      • Listening/Viewing: Students will learn strategies to help them listen attentively and recall information of oral and visual communication.


      Mathematics: We use the Trailblazers program and focus on collecting, organizing, graphing and analyzing data, learning computational strategies for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, investigate geometry, understand fractions and link them to decimals, recognize and use different units of measurement, problem solve, and learn to communicate mathematical ideas with others. Otter Creek Math Remediation is also used to strengthen math fact recall.

      Science:  The four units of study are: Weather & Climate, Simple Machines, Nutrition & Digestion, and Vertebrates/Invertebrates.

      Social Studies:Michigan History is the overall theme used in the fourth grade.  The text is called Our Michigan Adventure. We also participate in the DNR's Michigan L.A.P.'s program which focuses on the natural resources of our state. Daily Oral Geography, learning map skills, and examining current events are also integral parts to this study.

      Music Curriculum:The Fourth Graders participate in general music classes at IHM-St. Casimir.
      For more information click here

      Special Classes:We are pleased to have Shared Time teachers from the Lansing School District to teach the following classes:  Physical Education, Art, and Spanish.

      Special Opportunities:

      • Camp Ebersole
      • The Big History Lesson: A week long study trip to the Michigan Historical Museum


      Special Information:

      • The Love & Logic program is used as a way to promote successful discipline in our school and classroom
      • Student Planners: Students are expected to use planners each day. Please sign your child's student planner every night. This tells me you have seen what we have done. It is a great organizational tool as well as an excellent form of communication.
      • Homework:  Expect to see homework every night.
      • Snacks: Provide a healthy snack each day to increase learning potential.  Water bottles are allowed.
      • Birthdays: Children are honored on their birthdays; treats are allowed. If your child is planning a party, but is not intending on inviting all the children, please do not send the invitations to school.
      • Absentee Work: It is the responsibility of the child to make up any missed work (unless other arrangements are made).
      • Check Edline for other important school/classroom events.
      • You can contact me through e-mail galbraithl@ihmlansing.org

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