Reading in Fourth Grade
*** GENERAL INFORMATION ***
In fourth grade students are no longer learning to read, but reading to learn. Our lessons will focus on reading comprehension. We will read fiction and nonfiction. Our grade 4 curriculum is new this year, Wit and Wisdom, from the company Great Minds. This curriculum does a good job of incorporating reading comprehension, speaking and listening skills, language skills, and writing.
When reading fiction we will be identifying or learning to identify context clues to vocabulary, character traits from actions/words of characters, how setting affects the plot, main idea and details of the plot, problem and resolution.
While reading nonfiction we will defining and identifying text structure and features. We will examine primary and secondary sources of information as well as a variety of informational resources.
With all texts we will learn vocabulary to broaden student's understanding of the specific text as well as knowledge of written language.
We will also be examining various works of art to deepen students thought processes and comprehension. This is new to us this year and is part of the Wit and Wisdeom curriculum adopted by Livingston parish.
For more information visit: https://greatminds.org/english
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*** TESTING ***
Reading will be tested weekly, usually on Friday. Assessments will cover story comprehension, vocabulary, and a more general reading comprehension skill. Question types may include fill in the blank, multiple choice, and short answer questions. Students will always be allowed to use the source text as a resource. We encourage them to use it to find or confirm their answers. Some of these assessments will be paper/pencil and some will be administered using Google Classroom or the Great Minds
Students may also be given a cold-comprehension assessment (Cold read or cold comp) which is a short passage to read and answer questions on which uses the same topic or skill learned, but which hasn't been seen before.
Students may also be required to answer extended written response questions. These may be part of the test grade or graded separately depending on the particular essay.
Finally, students may be graded on classwork, projects, or other assignments at the teacher's discretion.
These grades are worth 60% of the ELA grade on the report card and are averaged in with English and spelling grades.
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*** MATERIALS ***
We will primarily read novels for our curriculum skills, however we will also read some nonfiction selections from shorter trade books, news articles, and other sources. We will work on skills which are associated with things found in the selection or that aid in reading comprehension.
Your child will work on skills in a Wit and Wisdom Module workbook that addresses the Louisiana state standards for ELA as well. Students will receive one workbook for each of the 4 Modules covered this year. Each module will focus on a theme and skill.
Throughout the year we will be working in groups to assess and better meet the needs of your child specifically. During small group instruction or tasks, students will work on skills based on needs indicated by your child's S.T.A.R. reading test, classroom assessments, teacher observations, and student interest surveys.
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*** NOVEL NOTE ***
Classroom novels cannot be brought home for study, however we will make bulk orders ahead of time for students and parents who wish to have a home copy for rereading, home study, and highlighting in. This is also a life-saver in the event that a child misses class at any point in time.
If you still find yourself in need of a copy of the reading material for school it may be purchased at any local or on-line book store, including Cavalier House Books in the antique village in Denham Springs, or borrowed from any local library.
The novels we plan to read this year as part of the suggested curriculum from Wit and Wisdom Grade 4 include:
Hatchet and Woods Runner both by Gary Paulsen
Walk Two Moons and Love That Dog both by Sharon Creech
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