4th Grade

Hello Future 4^th Grade Student,

I have one question for you. Are you ready for 4^th grade? My name is Mme. Rowan, and I am so excited to teach you English next school year. I can't wait to meet you in August. J

I believe in you, and I am counting the days until we get a chance to work together. I will push you to do your best. I will push you to explore new topics, concepts, and skills. I don't give up easy, and I will expect the same from you.

One of my favorite quotes about reading is from Dr. Seuss. It is… “The more you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you’ll go.” So there’s no time like the present, my new 4^th grader!! I want you to have a fantastic summer. I can’t wait to hear all about it in August. Make sure that you swim, play, laugh, get dirty, eat ice cream, but most importantly, I hope that you take time to READ!!

I can say without hesitation that the best way to become a better reader is to spend time reading. I encourage you to set aside 20 minutes of reading time each day.

I challenge you to broaden your ‘literary’ horizons and read books from different genres over the upcoming months as well. That means if you’re always reading fiction books, try sprinkling in some non-fiction texts or even some poetry books. Perhaps you can explore some Greek myths or folktales from different countries also. Dive deep into books that you enjoy reading, but I ask that you also go out on a limb and read different books that you wouldn’t ‘normally’ read.

I have included in this packet a fun way in which you can incorporate reading into your normal daily summer routine.

This is optional. That means that you do not have to participate. If you do challenge yourself though, you will be rewarded with a casual day. How cool is that?? Please follow the directions below and as a reward, you can earn stickers for a casual day.

Directions:

Fill out (color) the attached bingo grid, which will help guide you to read books from different genres. Who doesn’t like playing bingo? J For each square that you color, please make sure that you also include a book report. I have attached one form for fiction and other one for nonfiction books. You can make copies of these pages as you go. I will also have them on my website (Just go to the AL website, find my name on the staff page, and you will be able to see my webpage). If you have any questions, you can email me at srowan@academielafayette.org.

For every 5 squares (vertical, horizontal, or diagonal) that you color, you will be awarded with a sticker for a dress down day. I also would like you to complete a fiction or nonfiction book report form for every book that you read (see attached). It’s that easy!! If you read 10, you will get 2 stickers. Fill out the whole bingo grid (black out), and you can earn 5 casual day stickers.

I have attached a 4^th grade summer reading list of suggested books, but you do not have to read the books on the list. I have also attached the bingo grid as well as the fiction/nonfiction forms that need to be completed…in your nicest writing!

All book report forms and the bingo grid (please staple neatly) can be turned in when we meet in August. You can visit my website over the summer to print out additional forms.

Have a fun filled summer…and happy reading!

Mme. Rowan

Click below to access the documents:

• Mme Rowan's note

• Bingo Sheet

• Book Report

• Reading list

Suggested Summer Reading List for Students Entering 4th Grade

Beverly Cleary books

Johanna Hurwitz books

Hoot by Carl Hiaasen

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Friends: Making Them and Keeping Them by Patty Kelley Criswell

The 39 Clues series

The Lightening Thief series

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

Drita, My Homegirl by Jenny Lombard

The Winner's Walk by Nancy Ruth Patterson

Rickshaw Girl by Mitali Perkins

Tofu Quilt by Ching Yeung Russell

The Nina, the Pinta, and the Vanishing Treasure by Jill Santopolo (goes with our

explorer unit)

Oggie Cooder by Sarah Weeks

Lincoln and His Boys by Rosemary Wells

Earthquake Terror by Peg Kehret (goes with our weather unit)

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki

She Touched the World by Sally Hobart Alexander

Give me Liberty! The Story of the Declaration of Independence by Russell Freedman

Fourth Grade Celebrity, Gift Of The Pirate Queen, Girl Who Knew It All, Left-Handed

Shortstop, Rat Teeth, Winter Worm Business, Nory Ryan's Song, Lily's Crossing, (and

others) by Patricia Reilly Giff

Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling

A Series of Unfortunate Events books by Lemony Snicket

Dear America books, My America books, and My Name is America (various authors)

The Spiderwick Chronicle series by Tony DiTerlizzi

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

Math Curse by Jon Scieszka (a book for math phobics)

50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth by the EarthWorks Group

Natural Disasters by Claire Watts (goes with our weather unit)

Top Secret: A Handbook of Codes, Ciphers, and Secret Writing by Paul B. Janeczko

(goes with our communication unit)

Fourth Grade Summer Reading List with Lexile Levels

Westward to Home: Joshua’s … Patricia Hermes 320

Hey, New Kid Betsy Duffey 420

Nasty, Stinky Sneakers Eve Bunting 510

Tiger Rising Kate DiCamillo 520

The Secret School Avi 540

Music of the Dolphins Karen Hesse 560

Skinnybones Barbara Park 590

Five Smooth Stones Kristiana Gregory 640

How to Eat Fried Worms Thomas Rockwell 650

My Dog, My Hero Betsy Byars 670

Homework Machine Dan Gutman 680

Clementine Sara Pennypacker 790

Room One: A Mystery or Two Andrew Clements 840

Missing May Cynthia Rylant 980

Any books on the following topics that your child would enjoy (and are on their level):

• Multiple Intelligences

• Government

• Communication Systems

• Water and how it is used

• Natural Occurrences

• Presidents

• United States

• Rocks and Minerals

• Explorers

• Oceans/Sea Life

• Natural Resources (fossil fuels, renewable energy)