Fourth grade is the approximate year in which students experience a shift from "learning to read" to "reading to learn. It is a formative year in which students create strong, meaningful connections with peers and take increased responsibility for individual learning. Our fourth graders will use reference books and the Internet to find the information they need for schoolwork. They take more responsibility for organizing and prioritizing their work. At this level, our core curriculum objectives are enhanced with elements of critical thinking, self-assessment, collaborative conversation, and journal writing. These allowed students to take part in a robust learning process, both in class and outside the classroom.