Current Literacy Study
The winter term begins with a study on expository nonfiction in conjunction with our STEAM cycle of New Jersey.
Students are learning to read nonfiction texts by taking advantage of its unique features (glossary, index, headings, captions, etc.) Students are learning various way to take notes based on the structure of a text (box and bullets, Venn diagram, timeline, 5W's 1H chart, cause and effect flow chart).
They are currently applying these skills as they read and take notes on parts of a textbook about New Jersey. They will also be reading nonfiction books of their choosing.
In Word Study, students will be further identifying and analyzing the features of expository nonfiction by creating their own enlarged two-page spread of a nonfiction text.
At the same time, students will be learning to write an expository essay (with an introduction paragraph, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph). The writing unit was designed to simultaneously introduce the new essay form to fourth graders and help fifth graders develop mastery of essay writing. In order to meet these goals, fifth grade students have been enlisted with the task of teaching this new writing structure to their fourth-grade peers.
Below is the Reading Response requirement chart. The requirements may change as we progress through the unit.
Students are learning to read nonfiction texts by taking advantage of its unique features (glossary, index, headings, captions, etc.) Students are learning various way to take notes based on the structure of a text (box and bullets, Venn diagram, timeline, 5W's 1H chart, cause and effect flow chart).
They are currently applying these skills as they read and take notes on parts of a textbook about New Jersey. They will also be reading nonfiction books of their choosing.
In Word Study, students will be further identifying and analyzing the features of expository nonfiction by creating their own enlarged two-page spread of a nonfiction text.
At the same time, students will be learning to write an expository essay (with an introduction paragraph, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph). The writing unit was designed to simultaneously introduce the new essay form to fourth graders and help fifth graders develop mastery of essay writing. In order to meet these goals, fifth grade students have been enlisted with the task of teaching this new writing structure to their fourth-grade peers.
Below is the Reading Response requirement chart. The requirements may change as we progress through the unit.
