• Reading

    The primary goal in Reading in 4th Grade is to foster a love for reading! With a balanced literacy approach, we will include the following components in our daily Reading Workshop: interactive read alouds, guided reading groups, shared reading, independent reading, and word study. Each student will develop an appreciation that “reading a book” is not the same as “reading AND understanding a book”. We will help them read with stamina and select appropriate books for independent reading. 

    The students will examine elements of non-fiction text: main idea, interpretation, & text structure. They will explore character and theme in various fiction studies. They will strengthen reading comprehension and fluency by using context clues and comparing and contrasting points of view. Through reading they will develop ideas and formulate questions in various genres.

     

    Writing

     

    Fourth graders will be actively engaged in Writing Workshop this year, as they practice various genres of writing, including personal narrative, response, informational, and persuasive.  

    The writing process consists of:

    •  prewriting
    •  drafting
    •  revising
    •  editing (teacher and peer)
    •  publishing

     

    The students will use Writers' Notebooks to gather their ideas during independent writing time. Their notebooks will become filled with their thoughts, memories, observations, ideas, feelings, and poetry.  In addition, the children may include sketches, photos, diagrams, artifacts or anything that inspires them to write.  


    Students will learn and practice different writing crafts and conventions, while exploring a variety of genres. Some key areas of focus include: figurative and descriptive language, use of dialogue, engaging leads and endings, development of setting with sensory details, how to research ideas, and how to organize ideas.