What Your Students Will Be Learning This Year
- Here is a snapshot of all things your child will be learning throughout the year.
Writing increases tremendously in fourth grade. We will be building on skills learned in third grade by writing narrative and expository pieces, as well as poetry and persuasive and procedural texts. Each piece of writing will be taken through the writing process where students will apply the six traits of writing. These include ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventions. In addition, grammar will be taught thoroughly as it is expected that they construct well written essays. Spelling rules will be taught throughout the year using scientific spelling methods, but the spelling routine may vary by classroom. Students will take the STAAR writing test on April 10.
Reading is a part of everything we do, and the district expects all language arts classrooms to implement a structured independent reading routine. StIR requires teachers to listen to students read during reading conferences. This allows the teacher and student to converse about fluency, decoding strategies,word meaning, and comprehension as well as set goals as readers. Reading skills will be explicitly taught during mini-lessons and students will be provided opportunities to review and practice these skills. In addition, we will use various pieces of literature such as novels, short stories, and nonfiction articles in guided reading groups or literature circles. At home, help your child find a quiet spot to read daily for 20 minutes to support their reading. Students will be taking the STAAR reading test on May 15.
Structured Independent Reading Projects
This independent reading project is designed to encourage students to read from many different genres and not become fixated on one type of genre, series, or author. Students will be expected to read independently each night and daily at school. Students may be asked to set a goal for how many different books and genres they will read in a certain period of time and may conference with their teacher about what books they are reading.
In October, students will choose their favorite book from the period and select a project below to showcase their chosen book in our Class Literary Gallery and during Literacy Night scheduled for November 8, 2017. In addition to doing one of the projects below, the students will write a summary to be displayed alongside their project. The summary will be written in class during writing workshop. We will have a Class Literary Gallery twice this year. The entire project will be due on the following dates: November 06, 2017 and May 21 , 2018. On these two days, the student’s reading goals need to have been met and their project with their summary will be due for showcase in the Class Literary Gallery.
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Project Options
1. Diorama – This is a three dimensional model that shows a scene or major part of your book. In addition to the summary, you must also include an explanation of the scene in the diorama and why it is important in the story
2. Sketch – The sketch will be written by you but may include others in your class. It should tell something about the book that you read. The script must be turned in as a draft and a final copy to show it has been taken through the writing process. It could be done live or filmed.
3. Puppet Show – This short puppet show must be written by you and can include a partner from your class. You may make new puppets or use puppets already made. The script must be turned in as a draft and a final copy to show it has been taken through the writing process and should include the book summary as an introduction.
4. Comic Strip – The comic strip should have illustrations and captions about your book, the major characters or major scene. It should be at least one page and contain at least 20 frames. Full color is required. The summary of the book may be included as an introductory panel.
5. Character or Plot Arc Mobile – The mobile must have a drawing of all the major characters (including the protagonist and antagonist) or 5 scenes depicting the stories plot arc. Each drawing must have a detailed explanation about characters and scenes.
6. Big Book – This is a shortened version of your book rewritten to include a “big book” format. The book should briefly retell the story with clear, full color original drawings and descriptions of the drawings.
7. Original Rap/Song – This must be written by you. You may ask another classmate to rap/sing with you. It should include characters, plot, setting, title, author and themes. Instruments are welcome. Please provide a written draft of your song.
8. Collage – Make a collage using magazine photos and/or your own illustrations about the book that you have read. You must include a description about what each of the things you chose are and represent, and most importantly how it relates to the book. Traditionally a collage is just pictures, so you may write a description of your pictures on the back if you’d like.
9. Cereal Box – Cover a cereal box to represent the story. The front of the cereal box should show a visualization of the book, title and author. The back will hold the summary of the story, theme, and review of book. One side will be the “ingredients” which will be where you list characters and their description and role in the book. The other side will include the five major scenes from the plot arc of the book in full color with short descriptions.
10. Artifacts Display – Bring in at least 6 artifacts that are symbolic of your book. Be sure to also include a clear description of why each artifact represents your book on an index card.
11. Wanted Posters – Create 3 to 5 “Wanted” posters for each of the main characters in your book (include the protagonist and antagonist). Draw an original picture of them in full color. Also include detailed character analysis describing their character traits using supporting evidence from the text. List why they are wanted and what their reward is. (If you feel that your book does not have enough characters to do 3 posters, choose a different project.)
12. Interview – Conduct a make-believe interview of one of the characters in your book that explains the character, plot arc, themes, and other interesting facts about the character and book. Ask at least 15 questions. Turn in a written draft of your interview with questions and answers. You may record it and save it to flash drive, DVD, email it to me, or you can perform the interview live in class with a friend.
13. Trading Cards-Create illustrated trading cards that picture characters, places and significant objects from your book. Each card should describe the role the person or item depicted plays in the story. You should include 8 or more cards that include a title card and a summary card.
14. Book Jacket - Students will create a unique book jacket for their chosen book.
15. DVD cover - Students will turn their book into a "movie"! Using a blank DVD case, students will create a DVD cover for a movie based on their book.
Important Reminders:
All illustrated work must be your original work if it asks for illustrations or drawings.
None of the work should include copied materials or illustrations.
Some projects ask you to follow the plot arc -- this is the real term for “story hill.”
Remember, students will write their summary in class and take it through the writing process.
This project will be done at school and home, if needed, or required by your teacher.
In October, students will choose their favorite book from the period and select a project below to showcase their chosen book in our Class Literary Gallery and during Literacy Night scheduled for November 8, 2017. In addition to doing one of the projects below, the students will write a summary to be displayed alongside their project. The summary will be written in class during writing workshop. We will have a Class Literary Gallery twice this year. The entire project will be due on the following dates: November 06, 2017 and May 21 , 2018. On these two days, the student’s reading goals need to have been met and their project with their summary will be due for showcase in the Class Literary Gallery.
.
Project Options
1. Diorama – This is a three dimensional model that shows a scene or major part of your book. In addition to the summary, you must also include an explanation of the scene in the diorama and why it is important in the story
2. Sketch – The sketch will be written by you but may include others in your class. It should tell something about the book that you read. The script must be turned in as a draft and a final copy to show it has been taken through the writing process. It could be done live or filmed.
3. Puppet Show – This short puppet show must be written by you and can include a partner from your class. You may make new puppets or use puppets already made. The script must be turned in as a draft and a final copy to show it has been taken through the writing process and should include the book summary as an introduction.
4. Comic Strip – The comic strip should have illustrations and captions about your book, the major characters or major scene. It should be at least one page and contain at least 20 frames. Full color is required. The summary of the book may be included as an introductory panel.
5. Character or Plot Arc Mobile – The mobile must have a drawing of all the major characters (including the protagonist and antagonist) or 5 scenes depicting the stories plot arc. Each drawing must have a detailed explanation about characters and scenes.
6. Big Book – This is a shortened version of your book rewritten to include a “big book” format. The book should briefly retell the story with clear, full color original drawings and descriptions of the drawings.
7. Original Rap/Song – This must be written by you. You may ask another classmate to rap/sing with you. It should include characters, plot, setting, title, author and themes. Instruments are welcome. Please provide a written draft of your song.
8. Collage – Make a collage using magazine photos and/or your own illustrations about the book that you have read. You must include a description about what each of the things you chose are and represent, and most importantly how it relates to the book. Traditionally a collage is just pictures, so you may write a description of your pictures on the back if you’d like.
9. Cereal Box – Cover a cereal box to represent the story. The front of the cereal box should show a visualization of the book, title and author. The back will hold the summary of the story, theme, and review of book. One side will be the “ingredients” which will be where you list characters and their description and role in the book. The other side will include the five major scenes from the plot arc of the book in full color with short descriptions.
10. Artifacts Display – Bring in at least 6 artifacts that are symbolic of your book. Be sure to also include a clear description of why each artifact represents your book on an index card.
11. Wanted Posters – Create 3 to 5 “Wanted” posters for each of the main characters in your book (include the protagonist and antagonist). Draw an original picture of them in full color. Also include detailed character analysis describing their character traits using supporting evidence from the text. List why they are wanted and what their reward is. (If you feel that your book does not have enough characters to do 3 posters, choose a different project.)
12. Interview – Conduct a make-believe interview of one of the characters in your book that explains the character, plot arc, themes, and other interesting facts about the character and book. Ask at least 15 questions. Turn in a written draft of your interview with questions and answers. You may record it and save it to flash drive, DVD, email it to me, or you can perform the interview live in class with a friend.
13. Trading Cards-Create illustrated trading cards that picture characters, places and significant objects from your book. Each card should describe the role the person or item depicted plays in the story. You should include 8 or more cards that include a title card and a summary card.
14. Book Jacket - Students will create a unique book jacket for their chosen book.
15. DVD cover - Students will turn their book into a "movie"! Using a blank DVD case, students will create a DVD cover for a movie based on their book.
Important Reminders:
All illustrated work must be your original work if it asks for illustrations or drawings.
None of the work should include copied materials or illustrations.
Some projects ask you to follow the plot arc -- this is the real term for “story hill.”
Remember, students will write their summary in class and take it through the writing process.
This project will be done at school and home, if needed, or required by your teacher.