The writing program is heavily focused on writing to communicate through a Writer’s Workshop approach. Using the Units of Study developed by Lucy Calkins, teachers will design writing instruction to support growth as a writer. Children will use a variety of writing structures to communicate. Students will receive direct instruction in concepts such as staying on topic in writing, organizing writing, making quality word choices, knowing the audience, spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Children will write pieces independently, revise and edit with an adult, and publish their work. Students will also reflect on their writing and discuss choices made in their writing. Writing will be shared with peers and parents.
Fourth grade students also participate in formal spelling instruction and vocabulary development focused on recognizing patterns in words. Students will use the Words Their Way sorts to explore the nature of words. Student lists are assigned based on their developmental readiness. Students will be expected to spell common words correctly and will receive word lists regularly for practice, instruction, and assessment. Teachers will introduce words and patterns in small groups.
To grow as a writer, fourth grade students will:
Fourth grade students also participate in formal spelling instruction and vocabulary development focused on recognizing patterns in words. Students will use the Words Their Way sorts to explore the nature of words. Student lists are assigned based on their developmental readiness. Students will be expected to spell common words correctly and will receive word lists regularly for practice, instruction, and assessment. Teachers will introduce words and patterns in small groups.
To grow as a writer, fourth grade students will:
- Retell experiences in a journal and in written stories.
- Recognize that writing is important for communicating and sharing ideas.
- Notice features of writing among genres/ authors.
- Discuss choices made in writing.
- Write on a single topic.
- Write pieces with a beginning, middle, and end.
- Include details in a logical order/ sequence.
- Make strong word choices to communicate their message.
- Write for different purposes.
- Use complete sentences of varying lengths in writing.
- Spell words correctly.
- Use capitalization and punctuation in writing (including commas in a list and to separate sentences).