Components of Mrs. Zalzal’s Fourth Grade LA Program

 

1.     READING-

·        Classroom guided reading

o       Basic Anthology –Beat the Story Drum

o       Novels – approximately 6 or 7

Sarah, Plain and Tall

Caleb’ Story

The Cricket in Times Square

The Sign of the Beaver

Shiloh

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

Number the Stars

·        Independent reading –monitored through a computerized Accelerated Reading Program with 400 books on the program available in my classroom

First trimester goal – 10 points

Second trimester goal – 12 points

Third trimester goal – 14 points

·        Reading elements stressed throughout the year:

Analyzing elements of character, setting, plot, etc.

Recognizing main ideas and supporting details

Drawing conclusions from information not directly stated

Recognizing the author’s point of view

Distinguishing various genres of writing

Recognizing literary devices such as similes, etc.

2.     VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT

·        Students use Wordly Wise for weekly vocabulary words.

We cover an entire lesson every two weeks during the first two trimesters. During the last trimester, we cover a lesson a week. Students are required to answer several multiple choice questions demonstrating knowledge of the word as well as to write selected words in sentences on the test given on Friday.

·        Wordly Wise words and their meanings are posted each week on my website. Wordly Wise flashcards are also posted on my website under Wordly Wise Drill.

·        New vocabulary words are also highlighted with each novel.

 

 

3.     SPELLING

·        We use a regular spelling book and take a lesson a week.

·        On Monday, the lesson will be introduced and students will work the first page of the lesson in class.

·        During the rest of the week, class work in spelling will be continued on the same sheet as Monday so it should remain in the student’s book until collected on Thursday.

·        On Wednesday, students will take a practice spelling test for homework.  The person giving the test must correct it and sign it.

·        On Thursday, students do a weekly proofreading sheet based on the textbook which covers grammar, capitalization, punctuation, etc.

·        Each Friday all students take the final test on the 20 basic words and 5 review words. The 5 challenge words are optional. If a student learns any of these words, he/she gets a bonus point for each word learned.

·        All of the spelling words are posted on my website each week.

4.     WRITING

·        Journal requirements for each trimester

o       9 one-page entries of your choice

o       Any teacher-assigned topics during the trimester

·        Students will do short writes like paragraphs and directions as well as personal narratives, etc.