In Year 4, your child will work on building confidence and independence to become a senior in their school. Here is what they can expect.
What to expect in Year 4
This year, your child will continue to work on becoming more self-sufficient and independent. Year 4 students will be further encouraged to engage in discussions with their peers and to share ideas and information, all to improve their communication skills and confidence.
They will be expected to work more independently on reading, writing and maths tasks in Year 4. Students will get to design some projects on their own and be introduced to their very first research tasks. Teachers will encourage them and work with them to find the best ways to present their work.
In many Australian schools, Year 4 is the first year of school that students get invited to an overnight school camp. This can be a super exciting time for kids, but some will be nervous about it, especially if it’s their first time away from home.
Ultimately, Year 4 is the year to focus on building confidence in your child as at age 9 or 10, they are well on their way to becoming a senior in their school.
What does your child learn in Year 4?
The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) outlines what children will learn each year. The Australian Curriculum, with its eight specific learning areas, is designed to help young Australians become successful learners, confident and creative individuals, and active and informed members of society.
The areas of learning in year 4 are:
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- Health & Physical Education
- Humanities & Social Sciences
- The Arts
- Technologies
- Languages
The content descriptions of each learning area specify what students will learn, and achievement standards describe the depth of understanding, knowledge and skills that are expected of them by the end of each school year.
Check out a full description the Australian Curriculum in Year 4 here.
The aim of the Australian Curriculum in Year 4 is to develop confident learners who can use their knowledge and understanding of Maths effectively and efficiently on a day-to-day basis. That’s why in Year 4, the emphasis is on mathematical experiences that are meaningful in real life.
Students will select appropriate procedures in problem solving, be encouraged to justify and give reasons for their choices, and to assess the practicality of their answers. Year 4 students will see that solving problems that require either mathematical or spatial thinking, situations that involve manipulating numbers, and understanding of measurement in one form or another is useful outside the classroom, too.
Instead of, for example, seeing a triangle as a pointy shape they will learn to focus on the relationship between the length of sides and angles, as well as its properties such as symmetry. They will gain more of an understanding around the fact that people use many mathematical concepts and processes in everyday life.
Find out how Cluey can help your child with Maths: https://clueylearning.com.au/year-4-maths/
Students will read and write about familiar content this year, and this will relate to other learning areas. They will be introduced to more complex texts both digital and in print, rhyming verse, poetry, and non-fiction. They will also be expected to start writing in different styles, including texts that persuade and explain.
Children at this age will learn to recognise different kinds of language used in text, depending on the audience and purpose, which can include stories from other cultures or with a historical context, as well as traditional oral texts, including Aboriginal stories. They’ll also work on improving their handwriting.
Grammar in Year 4 will include simple and compound sentences, and spelling and punctuation is again an area of focus. They will work on planning, drafting and publishing a narrative text that contains multiple characters and a series of events leading to a climax for a range of audiences, to show an increasing control over text structure and language features.
Students will be expected to edit their own work in Year 4, and your child may also get the opportunity to learn another language other than English. Performance may also be a focus in school this year. Your child may be asked to prepare poems and scripts to read aloud in class.
Find out how Cluey can help your child with English: https://clueylearning.com.au/year-4-english/
Things you can do to help your child with schoolwork in Year 4
Understanding the basic areas of learning that they’ll cover in Year 4 can prepare you for questions your child may ask you, but it’s also good to keep encouraging their independent learning at home.
As the homework your child brings home from school gets more complicated, there are things you can do to make it easier for them.
- Make sure that your child has a comfortable and well-lit place to complete their homework and keep the supplies they need within reach.
- Stick to a routine for study time. Some kids work best in the afternoon, following a snack and some time to relax and play, where others may prefer to do homework after dinner.
- Make sure they do their own work. Parents can give some directions, but they won't learn if they don't think for themselves.
- Be involved and keep motivating them. Ask your child about their assignments and upcoming tests. Give encouragement, go over the completed homework together, and make sure you’re available if they have questions or concerns.
- Praise your child for their work and efforts. If they ace a test or art project, stick it on the fridge! Tell them, and others around you, that you’re proud of their academic achievements.
How Cluey's tutoring can help your child succeed
Cluey Learning can design a tailored tutoring plan that has all your child's learning goals covered. Our team is available to help them at the right time through expert online face-to-face tutoring.
We work directly with students and their families to strengthen children’s traditional, formal education – building on what they learn at school and supporting their academic development in a way that meets their personal needs and circumstances. We’ve helped thousands of families throughout Australia with schoolwork support, thanks to our fun and personalised learning programs in both English and Maths.
Our tutors use a range of approaches to meet the needs of different students, whether the goal is to catch up, build more confidence or to challenge your child to reach their full potential. All programs are flexible to suit your busy schedule. This is your child’s own learning journey, and at Cluey, what’s right for students is at the centre of everything we do.
We’re all experienced ATAR achievers and qualified teachers who enjoy nothing more than supporting children to stay on track and engage their minds. The Cluey approach is unhurried and unambiguous and just like you, we want to see your child succeed and thrive.
Find out more about our primary school support and tutoring
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