Third-Fourth Grade Classroom

Ms. Hettenhausen teaches third and fourth grade. Students start school at 8:40 a.m. Third graders are dismissed at 2:45 p.m., and fourth graders are dismissed at 3:10 p.m., except on Wednesdays, when all students are dismissed at 1:00 p.m. Ms. Hettenhausen is assisted by Amy Glogovac, Jamarys Latoni, and Taylor Stophlet.
 
Educational Practice
“Tell me and I’ll forget. Show me and I may remember. Involve me and I learn.”  – Benjamin Franklin
 
I strive to create a nurturing learning environment where everyone feels safe and valued while providing challenging, child-centered activities. Students are active participants in their own learning by engaging in hands-on-minds-on experiences, reflecting on the learning process, and setting personal goals. Art, music, and movement will be integrated throughout the curriculum to help bridge connections and honor learning styles and interests. Students explore, investigate, connect, reason, analyze, communicate, justify, and support each other in our quest to learn about the world around us.
 
Family participation is encouraged! Participation opportunities range from volunteering in the class to supporting your child at home.  Weekly class notes and monthly newsletters allow families to to stay connected with at-school learning.
 
Special Activities
Life Lab: Learning comes to life outdoors in our Life Lab garden where students work and study. Students study earth and life science while maintaining and harvesting the garden for use in the school cafeteria.

Music: Students have weekly music instruction including dance, singing, and percussion with Valerie Cameron. Students also have the option to participate in after school chorus. ​
 
Reading Buddies: Students improve reading fluency and self-confidence while reading with our younger school partners.

Computer Literacy: Through weekly instruction with media/technology instructor Wendy Milette, students develop their knowledge of technology and how to use it safely while using problem solving skills to accomplish tasks.

Science and Engineering: Students investigate science through FOSS (Full Option Science System). As scientists, students observe phenomena, think about how they relate to what is known, test their ideas in logical ways, generate explanations based on evidence, then ask more questions. Students will put their innovative thinking to the test as they research and develop solutions to their own problems then present them at our school science and engineering fair.

Theater: Every other year, students connect subject area content of the California Gold Rush to theater in our very own class rendition of Gold Dust or Bust play.

GATE (Gifted and Talented Education): All fourth graders are assessed for placement in Pacific School's GATE program, run by Wendy Milette. In addition, when appropriate, advanced math students have the option to study math with the fifth-sixth grade class.

Ms. Hettenhausen

Students reading in the Pacific School Library

Experiments in the Life Lab garden

Ms. Hettenhausen playing basketball with students