The Common Core standards for written expression are taught through a workshop approach using materials from the district-adopted Units of Study for Teaching Writing in conjunction with additional resources.  Developmentally poised to begin writing more academic texts, this year fourth graders will become familiar with the genres they will regularly encounter throughout school—thesis-driven persuasive essays, literary essays, and research reports.  The four units of study are:

• Unit 1: The Arc of Story: Writing Realistic Fiction

• Unit 2: Boxes and Bullets: Personal and Persuasive Essays

• Unit 3: Bringing History To Life

• Unit 4:The Literary Essay: Writing About Fiction

Our weekly spelling instruction focuses on teaching students the rules and patterns that govern word spelling. Rather than simply memorizing weekly word lists, students develop a deeper, conceptual understanding of why words are spelled the way they are. This approach helps students recognize and apply spelling patterns to new and unfamiliar words, expanding their overall spelling skills. Like previous years, instruction is tailored to meet students where they are, supporting growth through targeted practice with words and patterns appropriate to their current level.

Students will build their vocabulary through a variety of activities that focus on word meaning, usage, and context. They will encounter new words through reading, discussion, and direct instruction, and will learn strategies to understand unfamiliar words, including using knowledge of prefixes, suffixes, and Greek and Latin roots.