Sue Gorton is new to our teaching staff this school year and we are excited to have her at our school as our fourth grade teacher. This month we would like to focus our teacher profile on Mrs. Gorton.
Q: If we were to take a tour of your classroom, what would we find?
The best thing you would find in my classroom is the students! They are active, enthusiastic, and up for the challenges I give them. The newest verses and catechisms being learned are always posted on the wall and we have established saying them in “thought groups down on the rug” to help us learn them. On most days you would also find K’nex in various stages of creation, marble kingdoms being established, and if you come during DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) you would find students enthralled in a variety of books being read in a variety of favorite spots.
Q: What does the 4th grade history curriculum and Bible curriculum cover?
Fourth grade history primarily focuses on Pennsylvania history. We have met the first Pennsylvanians, established colonies, met William Penn, and begun settling the frontier. During the time period of studying the Native Americans from the Pennsylvania region, each student created and displayed a project related to that topic. Displays ranged from pottery and clothing to wigwams and longhouses; they were top quality.
Our Bible curriculum for fourth grade covers the period of time from creation through Saul as well as the catechism and verses bringing us from the fall of man to our benefits in Christ as believers. How valuable and precious are the times of laying before the children again and again the truth, simplicity, beauty, and power of the gospel…if our students gain all knowledge and lose their souls then all has been lost.
Q: Has your class gone on any field trips this year?
Our first field trip was to the Whitaker Center. We had completed a unit on the human body (that included brave students observing and dissecting a pig’s liver, heart, brain, and other various organs) and participated in a hands-on session primarily about our hearts and lungs.
Q: Will 4th grade be working on any projects this marking period?
As mentioned earlier, the students completed a history project for the unit on the “first Pennsylvanians” or Native Americans. They have also just completed a reading challenge where everyone in the class read a missionary biography. The next step will be completing a folder with maps, a creative cover, and writings about the most impacting parts. Part of the information from the folder will be used in a wall display locating the missionaries on a world map. And hopefully the students will continue reading more and more missionary biographies and our “wall of missionaries” will grow and grow.
By the end of the year they will also hopefully have completed a science project on tree identification as well as a project exploring another country.
Q: What are your interests and hobbies outside school?
To be part of my family I have to love to read…and I do! My favorite author is C. H. Spurgeon, but I must admit that well-written children’s book are on the top of my list of loved books also. I love to be outside and I don’t even have to be doing anything if I can just be outside. But I do enjoy walking (and talking). And most of all I like having my family home with me and being all together often leads to game playing.
Q: What do you appreciate most about teaching at Grace?
Of all the things I appreciate about Grace (and there are many) the thing I appreciate most is knowing that we are here for a reason and that faithful prayer covers all we do.
Thanks to Mrs. Gorton for sharing these responses. Check back next month when we will feature Shawna Morrow, also new to our staff, in another teacher profile.
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