How to Study and Memorize Your Poem for Recitation
Each quarter, our 4th graders take on the exciting challenge of memorizing and reciting poems at school. This not only builds confidence in public speaking, reading skills, but also strengthens memory, focus, and appreciation for the beauty of language. With a few weeks to prepare, here’s a simple routine to help your scholar succeed at home:
Week 1: Get to Know the Poem
Read the poem aloud daily. Focus on hearing the rhythm and flow.
Talk about the meaning. Discuss unfamiliar words and what the poem is saying. Understanding makes memorizing easier!
Break it into parts. Divide the poem into stanzas or smaller sections.
Week 2: Start Memorizing in Chunks
Practice one stanza at a time. Read it 2–3 times, then try to say it without looking.
Write it out. Copying the lines helps cement them in memory.
Check accuracy. Compare what was recited to the text and correct any missed words.
Week 3: Connect the Parts
Link stanzas together. Recite the first two stanzas together, then add the third, and so on.
Use repetition. Repeat the growing section 2–3 times each day.
Practice with expression. Add tone, pauses, and emphasis to bring the poem to life.
Week 4: Polish and Perform
Recite the whole poem daily. Morning and evening practice helps lock it in.
Perform for an audience. Try reciting for family, friends, or even pets!
Mirror practice. Stand in front of a mirror and recite, just like presenting in class.
Whiteboard or bathroom mirror trick. Write the poem with a whiteboard marker, then erase a few words at a time. Keep practicing until you can do it with almost no words—or none at all.
Focus on confidence. Eye contact, clear voice, and steady pace are just as important as memory.
Tips for Success
Keep practice sessions short (5–10 minutes) but consistent.
Celebrate progress! Small wins each day build confidence for the final recitation.
Encourage your child—memorizing takes effort, but it’s a skill that grows stronger each time.
By spreading out practice over 3–4 weeks and using these strategies, scholars won’t just memorize the poem—they’ll truly own it and deliver it with confidence in class.
Welcome to Quarter 2!
Wednesday, October 14th marks first week of Quarter 2. Fourth grade dives into new and exciting curriculum this quarter including: Math chapters with more challenging bar model word problems and fractions, continuing Middle Ages History and a unit on Ancient China, Waves in Science and learning the elements of a 5 paragraph essay and execution of the Robin Hood Essay before Winter Break. Quarter 2 also has Classical Character Day on October 28th. We'll finish off the quarter with the famous Robin Hood Celebration. Students should be diligent to complete all their work prior to these fun privileges!
-Please send students with this copy of "Robin Hood" for Q2.
- Parent Teacher Conferences on 10/12 and 10/13. Thank you to all the parents who were able to attend!
-10/28 Classical Character Day. Parents are encouraged to come to school and read a beloved passage, poem or story book to their child's class. Parents may also choose to dress up as a favorite story character. Students may dress as Classical Character from a Literary selection if they have returned their permission slip by 10/23. No popular culture characters turned into books. The Fourth Grade Team will dress from "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" if you'd like to match that theme. Classroom parents are organizing the snack and a sign-up for reading slots.
CURRICULUM:
ELA:
The first poem of Quarter 2 is "Beowulf" and your children have received a copy to practice over break. Listen to it in Old English here.
Beowulf background- Beowulf was a Danish warrior before there was a Denmark. Written between 700-1000 AD, takes place in roughly 925 AD. Beowulf serves the king Hrothgar, and helps him get rid of an ogre who was a descendent of biblical Cain. He then defeats the ogre’s mother, a water witch, and is finally mortally wounded defeating a dragon once he becomes king for a time. Scyld Scefing (Shield Sheafson) was the great-grandfather of Hrothgar, an orphan who became king because of his skill as a Viking warrior. Vikings would have fought in plain clothes with a wooden shield and sword, meant to end a fight in one or two blows. The mead hall mention in the poem has also been found.
**Scholars will read "Beowulf" in its entirety in 8th grade at CPA.
LITERATURE 4th Grade finishes Princess and the Goblin and all will begin "Robin Hood" in W2. This is to complete the tale and set us up for Robin Hood Essays at the end of Quarter 2.
We continue our COMPOSITION program by focusing on refining introductory structure while mastering the art of the concluding paragraph. We are currently reviewing graded St. Benedict introductory paragraphs, analyzing exemplar models on the projector, and reinforcing the four essential components of an essay's opening: the hook, general sentence, topic sentence, and three-point sentence. At the same time, we are introducing the 3-part concluding paragraph formula—learning how to craft a summary statement, restate three-point details using fresh vocabulary, and finish with a memorable clincher that echoes the opening hook. Through guided modeling, scholars are actively practicing turning their essay outlines around to build a clear, satisfying "back door" for their writing.
In GRAMMAR, we review analyzing and diagramming direct objects in sentences. Scholars should use their WOL books to help them. Scholars will also complete a compound sentences homework assignment and use their notes from Q1.
In LATIN AND GREEK ROOTS we will take no new roots this week, keep studying roots definitions cards. Scholars will make-up the Q1 Grammar Test on Friday.
For PHILOSOPHY, we will make Q2 goals based on what we want to improve on from 1st Quarter.
Math:
In Math, we will finish and review Chapter 3 concepts in preparation for the test in W2. Once graded tests are returned in W3, students should complete test corrections and submit. After the Chapter 3 test we will begin working on Order of Operations leading into our Chapter 4 unit on solving Word Problems using all four operations.
Double Digit Multiplication Review
Order of Operations Intro Khan Academy
History:
In History, we will use our time to make-up the lesson lost due to the a/c outage in Q1!
Science:
In Science, we begin our Waves Unit. Students will get a new book to read and use to complete assignments.
Sound and Light Travel in Waves
Remember, the blog is updated weekly. Be sure to come back frequently to see any upcoming events or changes in fourth grade.