Programs

Programs

Ms. Altomer's Classroom • 4th Grade

ELA

Two hours per day, children will be immersed in an intensive reading, writing, listening, and speaking English Language Arts program. In 4th grade, students are making the transition from learning to read, to primarily reading to learn.

Guided Reading

Guided Reading is an instructional approach that involves a teacher working with a small group of students who demonstrate similar reading behaviors and can all read similar texts. The text offered by the teacher is at their instructional level, which means it isn't easy enough for children to read on their own, but involves students to need instructional support without getting frustrated. The text offers challenges and opportunities for problem solving wherein children are supported while expanding their reading strategies. At Pinewood, your child will be assessed using the Fountas & Pinnell reading levels A-Z. An average entering 4th grader should be at a level Q and an average exiting 4th grader is expected to be at a letter S/T.

Genre of the Month

Students are expected to read a book at home independently or with another person and complete a reading log. This is part of the 20 minutes of reading per night that every child is expected to complete. Upon completion of reading a book approved by the teacher, students will create a project, which depicts the major elements of the story: setting, characters, problem, events, and solution. Every month students will be reading a different genre to expand their reading palettes.

Expected books to be read will be in the following genres: humor, mystery, adventure, biography, fantasy, and Newbery Award Winning books. The intent of these book projects is to involve everyone and make children excited about reading. Teamwork and imagination are necessary for these projects.

Writing

Students learn and build writing skills during writer's workshop time. This time focuses on improving writing skills following a sequence of steps that guide a student through the many phases of creative writing. Students work on topics and styles of their choice, revising and editing their pieces by self-conferencing, peer-conferencing, and teacher-conferencing. Skills are taught through group and individual lessons depending on their needs. Pieces are published and saved for their end of the year folder where students can showcase their best work and pride!