EnglishLanguageArts



**Language Arts ** Reading, writing, speaking, and listening are integrated across the curriculum. Our core reading program is the Reading Street Program published by Scott Foresman. It is an anthology that allows teachers to effectively differentiate instruction through leveled reading, and interesting stories to better ensure that all students learn the reading skills necessary to help them become better readers. This is an integrated anthology, which also includes writing, and spelling. In addition we will offer literature choices which reflect topics in other disciplines. The children write as part of ALL of their content area work, including science, social studies, and mathematics. Different genres of writing are explored, including experience stories, poetry, reports and other non-fiction writing. We teach proofreading and editing skills as well, and use techniques from the John Collins program, Writing Across the Curriculum as well as the Six +1 Writing Traits. Literature Circles Students will be using literature circles this year. This learning approach involves small groups of students getting together to discuss books that they are reading. Students have a choice in book selection so they can choose topics and genres that they are interested in. In groups of 5 or 6 they will have guided discussion about events and characters in the book they are reading. Literature circles provide a way for students to engage in critical thinking and reflection as they read, discuss, and respond to books. They will use response journals and literature job sheets to help guide their discussion. The teacher’s job is provide students with appropriate reading selections, help model and guide discussion and encourage input from all group members.

Language Arts/Reading Links
*These sites have been checked="true"for appropriateness, although students should always be monitored while on the internet.
 *  **Language Arts** ||  **Writing**  ||  **Reading**  ||
 *  **Reference** ||  **Paragraphs**  ||  **Book Report Examples**  ||
 * • [|Encyclopedia Britannica] || • [|Writing Paragraphs] || • [|Slide View Book Report Guidelines] ||
 * • [|Online Dictionary] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Constructing the Paragraph] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|The Chronicles of Narnia] ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Book of English Usage] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Writing a 5 Paragraph Essay] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire] ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Thesaurus] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Writing a Paragraph] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> **Stories and Games** ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> **Spelling** || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Writing a Descriptive Paragraph] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Between the Lions: Reading Games] ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Irregular Plurals] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Guided Paragraph Writing] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Game Goo: Reading Games] ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Spelling Quiz] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|How to Write an Apple (paragraph)] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Reading Practice: Fiction and Nonfiction] ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Spelling Lists and Games] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Purpose for Writing] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Toon University: Reading Practice] ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Game Goo] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Look, Cover, Write, and Check] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Comprehension Practice] ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Stories with Spelling Errors] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Punctuation Paintball] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Stories Online] ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|SpellaRoo] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Grammar Gorilla] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Stories from the Web] ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> **Words** || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> **Sentence Structure**  || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Animal Myths and Legends (stories to read)] ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Star Words] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Making Sentences- Monkey Business] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Stories to Read] ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Word Games] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Sentences- Does it Make Sense?] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Reading Practice and Quiz] ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Puzzle Maker] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Describing Actions-Sentences] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> **Specific Help** ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Gamequarium--Sentence Structure] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Main Idea Practice] ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Silly Sentences-game] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Possessive and Reflexive Practice] ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Complex/Compound Sentences] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Cause and Effect] ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|ABC-YA Friendly Letter Writing] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Compare/Contrast Practice] ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Vocabulary Builder] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Summarizing and More] ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Synonym and Antonym Game] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Gamequarium--reading practice] ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Character Traits] ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Figurative Language] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Ticket to Read] ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> **Poetry** || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Limericks for Kids] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Acrostic Poetry] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Haiku Poetry] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">• [|Limerick definition] || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> ||

What to Expect in 4th Grade