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 across all content areas.
Language Arts
Fourth Grade students strengthen reading skills and explore new strategies through carefully chosen texts. Writing instruction emphasizes grammar, structure, and mechanics, with students writing narratives, responses, informative, and persuasive pieces. Spelling covers word origins, patterns, and context clues, while vocabulary grows through literature-based programs.
Math
Math instruction is differentiated at on-level or above-level pacing. Topics include place value, operations with multi-digit numbers, problem-solving with whole numbers, fractions and decimals, patterns in algebra, angle concepts and measurement, and identifying geometric lines, angles, and shapes.
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, elections and the political process, role of government, and being a responsible citizen.
Science
Fourth Graders develop scientific thinking through the scientific method. They explore physical science topics like matter, energy, light, sound, magnetism, and motion; earth and space science; and life science, including cells, heredity, ecosystems, plants, animals, endangered species, and the human body.
Religion
Fourth Graders learn about The Ten Commandments, The Beatitudes, the Rosary, Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel, Prayer to the Holy Spirit, The Angelus, and a greater appreciation and exploration of the sacraments.
Enrichment classes include Physical Education, Art, Music, Technology, Library, and Spanish.
Teacher: Patty Holt
Mrs. Patricia Holt has been the Fourth Grade teacher at Holy Cross since 2011 and has taught in the Archdiocese of Washington since 2005. A 2024 Golden Apple Award recipient, Mrs. Holt brings a wealth of experience to her classroom. She previously taught Pre-K at a parent participation nursery school in Kensington and worked as a math assistant with seventh and eighth graders in Howard County Public Schools. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Maryland and earned her teaching certificate from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland. Mrs. Holt is guided by the words of Aristotle: “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.”
Teaching Assistant: Mary Downs
Mary Downs studied at Villa Julie College in Stevenson, Maryland. She joined the staff of Holy Cross School in 2016 and worked in the Kindergarten and Pre-Kindergarten classrooms before transitioning to Second Grade in 2021. Mrs. Downs has worked in Catholic schools since 2009. Before coming to Holy Cross, she worked at St. Bernadette, Holy Redeemer and St. Anne’s in Annapolis.