4th Grade ELA
During the 2025-2026 school year, we will continue to use the reading series called Into Reading. This program is broken into various genres both fiction and non-fiction. Six to seven of the modules will be covered in 4th grade. Each module will last about three to four weeks. Lessons will include reading, writing, vocabulary, grammar, and decoding instruction. A selection quiz will be given on each passage. Students will also complete a weekly exam on skills taught for the week.
In addition to the lessons provided in the ELA series, students will also read novels. Some of the novels we will read this year are Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, There’s an Owl in the Shower, and My Side of the Mountain. Other possible books that we will read aloud include Love that Dog, and Eagle Song. Students will write at least one book review on one of these novels.
Spelling Tests
Students will have a spelling test each week. Students should study these words throughout the week. Students can study at home by writing their words ten times each, putting them in alphabetical order or having a parent or sibling quiz them.
Enrichment
In addition to ELA class, 4th graders will have Enrichment once a week during their special time. This period will be used to continue the ELA work from the day, continued practice with cursive from 3rd grade, work on IXL skills, and to learn keyboarding using the program Keyboarding Without Tears.
Extra Help
After school for ELA will be on Tuesdays. Students will work in the classroom from 2:45 until 3:15. During this time, we will work on correcting assignments, finishing class projects, reviewing a challenging skill and improving your child's reading level. Students taking the 4:00 late bus will work on homework in the library from 3:15 until departure time.
Itinerary for the Year
1st Quarter
Read Aloud: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
Writing Assignment: Write a Summary
Module 1: What Makes Us Who We Are? (The Illuminated Adventures: Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo, The Year of the Rat by Grace Lin, and Kitoto the Mighty by Tololwa M. Mollel)
Module 2: Come to Your Senses (The Science Behind Sight by Louise Spilsbury, Blind Ambition by Matthew Cooper, and The Game of Silence by Louise Eldrich)
2nd Quarter
Read Aloud: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Writing Assignment: Create a fantasy map and narrative.
Writing Assignment: Book Review.
Module 3: Rise to the Occasion (Rent Party Jazz by William Miller, Catch Me If You Can by Carol Schaffner, and My Diary From Here to There by Amada Irma Perez)
Module 4: Heroic Feats (Prince Charming Misplaces His Bride by Christopher Healy, Smokejumpers to the Rescue by Laurie Toupin, and Perseus and the Fall of Medusa retold by Claire Daniel)
3rd Quarter
Read Aloud: There’s an Owl in the Shower by Jean Craighead George
Writing Assignment: Essay Writing
Module 5: Art Everywhere (The Beatles Were the Fab and They Were Funny by Kathleen Krull and Paul Brewer, and The Art of Poetry)
Module 6: Marvels of Nature (The Mariana Trench by Michael Woods, Weird and Wondrous Rocks by April Pulley Sayre, Nature’s Wonder: Poetry About Our Amazing Earth, Grand Canyon: A Trail Through Time by Linda Vieira)
Review for New York State ELA Exam
4th Quarter
Read Aloud: My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
Writing Assignment: Catskill Mountain Survival Guide Project for My Side of the Mountain
Module 7: Tricksters and Tall Tales (If time allows.)
ELA Grading
Grading will be based on the following areas:
Participation/Effort (10%)
Spelling Quizzes (10%)
Classwork/Homework/Writing Assignments/Projects (40%)
Tests/Book Reports (40%)
Contact Information
Mrs. Lisa Mattice
lmattice@wajcs.org
(518)734-3400 extension 1205