English Language Arts
Reading
The fourth grade team at PRS is piloting a new reading program this year entitled "My View Literacy." This comprehensive, interactive literacy program provides a balanced approach to teaching reading, writing, speaking, listening, and viewing using a collection of authentic reading texts. In addition to reading authentic text selections from the anthology, students will read novels, poetry, and nonfiction texts that connect literacy learning to other areas of the curriculum, such as math, science, and social studies.
Writing
In the area of writing, fourth graders develop their skills as writers as they learn to write for a variety of purposes and audiences. The Empowering Writers program is the core of the writing curriculum in grade four. Lessons focus on the steps of the writing process and the key characteristics of effective writing in the expository, opinion, persuasive, and narrative modes. Students in grade four will be able to:
1. Understand the various steps in the writing process.
2. Apply the process as they write for a variety of purposes and in a variety of forms.
3. Reflect upon their writing in a workshop environment.
4. Take ownership and responsibility for his or her own writing.
5. Use a common language to communicate about the process, the forms, and the traits of writing (ideas, word choice, organization, sentence fluency, conventions, and presentation).
6. Use rubrics to help them understand the differences between strong writing and weak writing.
7. Apply writing strategies used by good writers as a means to develop and strengthen their own writing skills.
8. Understand that each person is a contributing member of a community of a classroom of writers.
1. Understand the various steps in the writing process.
2. Apply the process as they write for a variety of purposes and in a variety of forms.
3. Reflect upon their writing in a workshop environment.
4. Take ownership and responsibility for his or her own writing.
5. Use a common language to communicate about the process, the forms, and the traits of writing (ideas, word choice, organization, sentence fluency, conventions, and presentation).
6. Use rubrics to help them understand the differences between strong writing and weak writing.
7. Apply writing strategies used by good writers as a means to develop and strengthen their own writing skills.
8. Understand that each person is a contributing member of a community of a classroom of writers.
Spelling
In the area of spelling, students focus on a specific skill each week. The word list aligns with the weekly spelling skill or pattern. Spelling homework is assigned every night, and the test is on Friday.
In the area of spelling, students focus on a specific skill each week. The word list aligns with the weekly spelling skill or pattern. Spelling homework is assigned every night, and the test is on Friday.