Meet the 4th Grade Team:

Ms. Clark
Sam Clark is grateful to be teaching 4th grade at WISH! Ms.Clark earned her BA degree from Loyola Marymount as well as her teaching credential. She decided to become a teacher because she has been inspired by her own experiences in school growing up as well as the amazing teachers who sparked this passion. Her favorite subject to teach is writing because she loves supporting student’s imagination and helping them gain incredibly important communication skills through their writing. In her free time, she enjoys being active, going to the beach, and spending time with loved ones. She thinks WISH is the best place to work because all staff share a love for teaching and are constantly striving to better improve their practices to help all students!

Ms. Bliss
Marie Bliss is ecstatic to be teaching 4th grade at WISH! Miss Bliss earned her BA degree and teaching credential from Loyola Marymount University. She decided to become a teacher because she wanted to impact young lives in order to create a better world for tomorrow. Her favorite subject to teach is math because she loves seeing each student use different strategies to solve problems and be willing to share their thought process. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, relaxing, and being with her friends and family.  She thinks WISH is the best place to work because they are an inclusive school that helps every student succeed and reach their full potential!

Ms. Uy
Ashley Uy is overjoyed to be teaching 4th grade at WISH!  Ms. Uy earned her BA degree from CSU Fullerton and her teaching credential and Masters in Literacy and Language Arts from Loyola Marymount University.  She decided to become a teacher because she was inspired by the teachers who helped her find her voice and gifts, and she wants to empower and equip our children to be the leaders they’re meant to be!  Her favorite subject to teach is math because she loves patterns and problem-solving and hopes her students will develop that same love. In her free time, she enjoys playing her piano or ukulele, staring at her adorable dwarf hamster (Stewie), and lounging with a good book or Netflix show.  She thinks WISH is the best place to work because the staff collaborate, support each other, and are always looking for better ways to help each student succeed!

Ms. O'Loughlin

Haley O’Loughlin is ecstatic to be co-teaching 4th and 5th grade at WISH! Ms. O’Loughlin earned her BA at CSU Chico, and is currently working on her masters at LMU. She decided to become a teacher to be able to give students the excitement to learn she received from her teachers. Her favorite subject to teach is writing because she loves seeing students personalities shine through. In her free time she loves to draw, watch movies, and play Ultimate Frisbee. She thinks WISH is the best place to work because of the amazing staff and students! 

Learn more about the 4th Grade Program:
The fourth grade program applies the constructivist learning theory by allowing students to discover and make meaning through multi-sensory, hands-on, and project-based learning. Differentiation is woven through all lessons to meet the individualized needs of each student. Fourth graders participate in a variety of learning activities to continue to think flexibly, to develop as individuals, and as a community of learners. Additionally, technology, art, music, and PE are important, integral components of the fourth grade curriculum.

Specifically, in language arts, fourth graders study different genres to expand on the literacy foundation they have built. They focus on specific details in reading to help them use precise language in their writing and speaking. They compare and contrast different points of view to enhance their critical thinking skills. Students grow as writers by composing pieces in a variety of genres, including opinion pieces, informative/explanatory texts, and narratives. They increase their knowledge of language conventions through grammar and vocabulary.

In mathematics, fourth grade students continue to grow in their understanding of and fluency in mathematical concepts. Students expand their place value understanding up to one million and perform multi-digit arithmetic. They work on multi-digit multiplication and division to find quotients involving multi-digit dividends. Students develop their understanding of fraction equivalence, add and subtract fractions with like denominators, and multiply fractions by whole numbers. They also learn to classify geometric figures by their properties, such as angle measures and perpendicular sides.

In social studies, fourth graders learn the unique history of our home state. Students explore the lives of Californians from the pre-Columbian societies, the Spanish missions, the Mexican rancho periods, the Bear Flag Republic period, the time of the Mexican-American war, and the time of the Gold Rush. Fourth graders study the physical and human geographic features that define California, as well as its transformation to an agricultural and industrial power. Students also learn about the U.S. Constitution and California in the greater context of the federal government.

In science, fourth graders study energy conversion through the engineering design process.  Additionally, students delve into modeling and solving read world problems and applying critical thinking skills to hone in and critique theirs and others solutions. Students study the flow of energy in ecosystems, learning the roles of producers, consumers, and decomposers. They will begin to differentiate among types of rocks and minerals, and students will learn how water and wind shape the Earth's surface. Additionally, fourth graders will study how light and sound waves occur in the world around us.