Fourth Grade
Fourth GRADE
Ms. Elizabeth Wareham
Hello! My name is Elizabeth Wareham, and I am very excited to be continuing my teaching career as a member of the St. Luke’s family this year. This is my 6th year teaching in a Catholic School and my third year teaching 4th grade. My previous experience includes 3 years teaching 5th grade in Cedar Rapids. During that time, I also directed middle school show choir.
I grew up in Dubuque where I graduated from Wahlert Catholic High School in 2013. I then attended Mount Mercy University and graduated in 2017 with a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education. I also have endorsements in reading and music.
In my free time, I enjoy playing my guitar and ukulele, singing, playing darts, and traveling.
I am very blessed to have the opportunity to teach at St. Lukes again this year, and I can’t wait to see what the year will bring!
Ms. Gabrielle Cowie
Hello! My name is Gabrielle Cowie (cow like the animal), and I feel so blessed to be returning to St. Luke’s this year to teach my third year in fourth grade! I graduated from The University of Northern Iowa in 2020 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and an endorsement in reading, and after graduating I moved to Houston, Texas where I spent my first year as a teacher in a second grade classroom. After my adventure in Texas, I came back home to Iowa and began my journey at St. Luke’s. I have wanted to be a teacher since I was in second grade myself, so it’s truly a dream come true to begin my fourth year of teaching with your kiddos.
In my free time I love going on walks and car rides for Scooters and pup cups with my Yorkipoo, Sterling, reading anything and everything (Ms. Wareham, Mrs. Silliman and I have a book club together), swimming, and spending time with my family who live in Polk City (I have three younger siblings and I’m the oldest).
I am so looking forward to seeing all the wonderful things this school year brings!
What is taught in 4th Grade?
Religion
Types of prayer, parts of Mass, Beatitudes, Ten Commandments, categorizing the seven sacraments, Corporal Works of Mercy, liturgical seasons, praying the Rosary
Academics
Math: Place Value Skills(rounding, comparing, writing, and reading numbers), multiplication, long division, fraction skills, decimal skills, relating fractions and decimals, measurement and conversions, basic geometry skills
ELA: Comprehension skills(character traits, context clues, vocabulary, literature small groups, Holes and The Lemonade War novel studies, nonfiction features and texts, learning about and reading different types of poetry, reader’s theaters
Writing: Personal narratives, Opinion essays, themed creative writing pieces, writing poetry (Acrostic, Shape, Limerick, Spoonerism, and Ballad), weekly spelling words
Focus: States on a map, state capitals, Mystery Science units over rocks, sound, how human/animal bodies work, and energy, STEM activities (Merge Cubes, Indi Bots, Imagination Station, Legos, needle felting, and Strawbees)
Special Activities
Biography Project, There’s A Pig in my Classroom virtual field trip, virtual Poet Author’s Visit with 5th grade(every 2 years), Living History Farms field trip.