Holy Cross School

Fourth Grade

Fourth Grade

The Fourth Grade is a faith-centered classroom where the language arts program guides students to appropriate learning through a responsive instructional model. Students are continuously assessed formally and informally to determine reading, math and study groups.  Students use reading skills daily during small group and independent reading, writing, discussion, problem solving and hands-on projects.  Reading skills are practiced and enhanced throughout the year, not just in language arts, but across all content areas.   

Language Arts

Reading material is selected so that each student can connect already mastered skills with opportunities to learn and practice new reading strategies.  Novels include, but are not limited to, Because of Winn-Dixie, The Lemonade War, Snow Treasure, The Cricket in Times Square, and The People in Pineapple Place.
Fourth Graders continue to practice grammar, sentence structure, paragraph structure, mechanics of writing, and journal writing, and also write for a variety of purposes (narrative, response to literature, inform and persuade.)
Spelling instruction includes word origins, context clues, prefixes, suffixes, syllables and spelling patterns.
Fourth Graders use Vocabu-Lit, a literature based vocabulary workbook, to increase their vocabulary.


Fourth Grade uses the enVisionmath 2.0 math program.  The curriculum includes 16 topics beginning with place value understanding, continuing with adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing multi-digit whole numbers, using whole numbers to solve problems, equivalence and ordering, adding and subtracting of fractions, comparing decimals, generating and analyzing patterns in algebra, understanding concepts of angles and angle measurement, and identifying lines, angles and shapes in geometry.

Social Studies

Fourth Graders learn about our state’s geography, climate and resources, and citizens who have positively impacted our state and country’s history.  Additional topics include civics and government, political structure in early Maryland, documents and democratic ideas (U.S. and MD), elections and the political process, role of government, and being a responsible citizen.


Fourth Graders learn think like a scientist by learning about the scientific method.  They also investigate physical science by learning about the properties of matter, microscopic organisms and their world, energy, light and sound, magnetic power, and the concept of motion.  They continue their scientific journey by exploring Earth and space science.  Lastly, life science rounds out the journey by learning about cells and organisms, heredity and diversity, ecosystems, plants, animals, endangered species, and human body systems.


Fourth Graders learn about The Ten Commandments, The Beatitudes, the Rosary (including the mysteries), Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel, Prayer to the Holy Spirit, The Angelus, and a greater appreciation and exploration of the sacraments in more detail.



Teacher:  Patty Holt

Patricia Holt earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Maryland, University College in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology.  She worked for seven years for Marriott International in Sales and Human Resources, respectively.  She earned her teaching certificate from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland.  Mrs. Holt began working in the field of education in 1994 with Howard County Public Schools, concentrating on middle school students seeking success on the Maryland Functional Math Test.  Her experience continued with positions at Holy Redeemer School, St. Jude School, and finally Holy Cross.