Readers Workshop
A NOTE TO PARENTS...
By the end of the first marking period, your child will be assessed and placed in the appropriate reading level so that they are reading books that are "just right" for them. Meanwhile, as I come to understand each child's reading habits and needs, I will meet with your child in small groups and individually to reteach, challenge, and conference with them about their reading. I can promise you this: I will know your child's reading strengths, areas of weakness, and reading preferences inside and out by the middle of October. What's more, is that your child will know them too! Instilling a passion for reading is my ultimate goal for each of my students. Wherever they are at now, you will be amazed at how far they've come by the end of the school year.
Interpreting Characters (September-November)
Learning Target: Readers will focus on becoming stronger fiction readers by learning strategies that help them analyze their text, focusing on characters. Students will build substantial ideas that are grounded in evidence. They will analyze details of their texts to find importance and gain a deeper understanding of the heart of their stories. We will be using the book, "Tiger Rising" by Kate DiCamillo as our mentor text.
Reading the weather, reading the world (December-February)
Learning Target: During this unit, students will be researching extreme weather and natural disasters. Students will learn to reason, analyze, weigh evidence, problem solve and communicate effectively. The work is intended to help students become global citizens.
Reading History: The American Revolution (February - May )
Learning Target: This is a unit on researching history, using the American Revolution as a case in point. Your student will learn to build knowledge by reading accessible texts, lean on text structures to organize notes and thinking, synthesize new information with prior knowledge, and tackle primary sources.
As students conduct their research, preparing to debate the question of independence from Great Britain, they will learn that historians study multiple points of view to gain a complete picture of events. Students will gather and angle evidence to support sides and then hone their skills to support a position with reasons and evidence.
Grading: End of Unit assessments and Exit Slips/Reading Response/Participation Rubric