2. Philosophy of Reading Teaching reading and writing at any age is very difficult. It takes a lot of practice to develop into a good writer or reader. I believe that this development starts at a young age and continues throughout school. Reading to your children at a young age can help them develop into strong readers and writers. Having a strong reading base at a young age is important to learning in the future years. I believe that practice and repetition is the key to being a successful reader and writer. The combination of at-home learning as well as in school is important to the development of all children. It is our job as teachers to make sure that children are taught the skills they need in order to become strong readers and writers. I believe creating a strong classroom base will guide the development of our young readers each and every day.
3. What is Balanced Literacy? Balanced Literacy is a framework designed to help all students learn to read and write effectively ALL students can learn to read and write Students will receive teaching needed in order to reach 4th grade standards at a comfortable level
6. Assessment Students will be evaluated Weekly on: Station Folder Selection Assessments Grammar Assessments Spelling Tests Writing Assignments will be evaluated bi-weekly Instruments used are: Scott Foresmanwebsite (www.successnet.com) Spelling City website (www.spellingcity.com) Scott Foresman grammar assessment Grades will be updated weekly in the township’s Rubicon Atlas program
8. Grouping Students are grouped based upon: Dibels Scores Progress Monitoring Scores Student Personality Acuity Data
9. Parent Involvement Have your child read to you The Weekly Story counts! http://classroom.jc-schools.net/waltkek/fourthgrade.html Hold your child accountable for their Reading grade Look at the test scores that are sent home weekly Practice Comprehension Strategies http://classroom.jc-schools.net/basic/la-read.html Talk to your child Conversation improves language & vocabulary development
10. References Culham, R. (2003). 6 + 1 traits of writing: The complete guide grades 3 and up. Scholastic Professional Books. Graves, M. F., Juel, C.,& Graves, B., B. (2007). Teaching reading in the 21st century (4th ed.). Pearson Education, Inc. Balanced Literacy. (2002-2003). Retrieved April 12, 2010, from Terryville Road School website: http://www.csdarchives.com/teachers/rstewart/k2002/Teachers/Balanced_Literacy/balancedliteracy.htm Example of a weekly schedule: 4th and 5th grade for a balanced literacy program. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from Gates Chili School website: http://www.gateschili.org/files/filesystem/FourthFifth_Grade_Schedule.pdf Instructional strategies online. (2004-2009) Retrieved April 15, 2010, from Saskatoon Public Schools website: http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/DE/PD/instr/strats/balancedliteracy/index.html
Notas do Editor
-All students can learn to read and write. -This balance between reading and writing allows students to receive the teaching needed in order to reach grade level status, while allowing students to work at a level that is not frustrating for them.
*Model Adopted from http://www.gateschili.org/files/filesystem/FourthFifth_Grade_Schedule.pdf. I looked at the model and then created and changed some ideas in order to fit my township’s instructional requirements.This is what a typical day in my 4th grade classroom may look like. The Balanced Literacy Approach crosses over all areas of classroom instruction excluding mathematics. Each Monday, students will be introduced to a new weekly story, new vocabulary, and time is spent on building background knowledge. Literacy work stations will fill the guided reading time throughout the week. Some students will be with (a) partner/s and others will be in small group time for more intensive learning with me.Throughout each week, intensive modeling is shown during writing and grammar time. This allows for growth in student confidence and it teaches students to become more independent.
*Model Adopted from http://www.gateschili.org/files/filesystem/FourthFifth_Grade_Schedule.pdf. I looked at the model and then created and changed some ideas in order to fit my township’s instructional requirements.This is what a typical day in my 4th grade classroom may look like. The Balanced Literacy Approach crosses over all areas of classroom instruction excluding mathematics. Throughout the week, students will continue on the current science/health/social studies chapters while pulling the balanced literacy approach into practice. Each Monday, students will be given a new list of spelling words in which they will complete some sort of activity with throughout the remainder of the week. Tests will be given each Friday.
Students will learn a new reading story each week. Along with the reading story, a new grammar skill and a new spelling list will be provided to the students. Differentiation will occur during Debbie Diller Literacy Work Stations in which students work on similar activities that are geared toward their learning level.Writing activities will be evaluated bi-weekly due to the length of writing expected by students in the 4th grade level. A rubric for which they will be graded will be shown on the following slide.Students’ weekly reading and spelling tests will be computer-based. The websites are above. The grammar assessment and a written portion of the weekly reading test will be paper-based.All student grades will be updated in Rubicon Atlas weekly. Parents are encouraged to view their child’s grades weekly.
* Adopted from 6 + 1 traits of writing: The complete guide grades3 and up.- Franklin Township Community School Corporation follows the 6+1 Writing Traits. In order to ensure repeated student learning in all of the above areas, students will base each of their writing assignments on this rubric.
The class will complete weekly literacy work stations.Students will be placed in groups of 3-4 studentsDecision of who will be placed in which group is decided by the above topics
-In order for students to become successful readers, it is vital to have parent involvement throughout the ENTIRE school year.Make sure you are checking your child’s reading grade regularly! I will be updating the grades on our township website regularly. Your child’s test scores will also be coming home every Friday! Check their scores and talk to them about what you see. Remember-They are 4th graders now and they need to be held accountable for their grades and actions as a person.-Parents should be listening to their child read preferably on a nightly basis. The following website contains review power points that you can view with your child. There are also vocabulary activities. Sometimes, test questions from the story are based on the story’s power point.-The following website is one in which the students are able to play games and/or practice comprehension strategies.-Talking to your child not only keeps a healthy relationship between the two of you, but it also helps improve your child’s fluency skills as well as build important vocabulary words.
