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Our goals in fourth grade include developing literacy strategies and creating a love for reading and writing. In the classroom, students will participate in small group instruction, whole group discussions and independent work. Our passion for reading instruction is to provide students with advanced skills and strategies along with a life-long love of books.
Reading program components:
Before, during and after reading strategies
Close Reading
Literature Circles and Guided Reading (Small group reading instruction)
Writing workshop with shared writing, peer editing, independent projects
Words their Way
Tower of Reading Challenge/ Genre Board Challenge
LINK to ONLINE Reading Resources
Independent Reading
Independent Reading
Fourth graders will spend part of each day reading independently, at school and at home. They develop fluency and build their vocabulary. They practice the comprehension skills that we learn together in class. Students should always bring a book to class. We recommend using the school library and our classroom libraries for a great texts.
Reading is the key!
Reading is the key!
It's vital that students are reading at home everyday. The elementary expectation is one hour of reading at home each week in English, and another hour in Spanish.
Tower of Reading
Through each trimester, the students will read texts of different genres. They demonstrate their comprehension with a summary, a book talk, or video recommendation on the Tower of Reading.
Time management: In order to complete the Tower of Reading, students should add about one new text each week.
Tips to Improve Reading at Home
Tips to Improve Reading at Home
Read with your Child
Read with your Child
Reading together helps develop students vocabulary, fluency and comprehension.
However, more than anything, it's fun to read together! You can take turns reading, discuss the important themes of the book and enjoy reading together.
Develop a Routine
Develop a Routine
What works best in your household and for your child?
Some families shut off the TV and cell phones for 30 minutes each evening. For some kids, using a timer works but not others.
Some families are really busy during the week and prefer to read more on weekends. Others are the opposite.
Some readers enjoy snuggling on the couch, while others focus best in a chair at a table. Do what works best for your child and your family's schedule.
Model it!
Model it!
Kids read more when they see the adults around them reading. When we lead by example, we see our children naturally picking up more books instead of video games.
Help Kids Find Books They Love
Help Kids Find Books They Love
Ask your child about what they're reading. What do they like? If they abandon a book, what didn't they enjoy about that book?
Ask me for suggestions. In the library, Dr. Heather and Ms. Fer always have great ideas. Our school library has an outstanding selection.
Check out e-books. Both the ASFG and Amazon.com have tons of options for e-books to keep us busy.
Talk to Kids about their Reading
Talk to Kids about their Reading
Ask your kids what they're reading. What is happening in the book? What challenges are the characters facing? How did they resolve the problem?
If you notice they aren't finishing books, let's talk. They may be choosing books that are too challenging right now or not taking the time to engage in the books.
Here are a few more articles for parents about getting our kids reading....
Fourth Grade Writing Expectations
Fourth Grade Writing Expectations
In the first few weeks of school, we will review writing expectations with the students. These are skills that they have learned in earlier primary years and we expect to see in their writing. We are practicing how we revise our writing and check for these areas.
Fourth grade writing:
Capital letters at the beginning of sentences and proper nouns (titles, places, names).
Complete sentences with punctuation
Paragraph structure (Indenting, topic sentence, supporting details and conclusion)
Best Book Lists
Best Book Lists
4th Grade English Book list - Created by ASFG 4th Graders!!!
Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media
Great Schools' Lists
Great Schools' Lists
Books So Great They Made a Movie (4th grade list)
Books that Celebrate Diversity (4th grade list)
Books that explore feelings (4th grade list)
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