Gather favorite nonfiction reads and organize themselves as nonfiction readers Focus on series and authors they enjoy Bend II: Investigating Beloved Authors and Deepening Understanding of Nonfiction Techniques Notice the language authors use to employ techniques Zoom in on a favorite author to investigate style, comparing and contrasting, noticing patterns, and analyzing how authors use certain techniques to create compelling nonfiction Bend III: Expanding Nonfiction Experiences Expand their nonfiction tastes and experiences by leading them to read a variety of authors’ styles and media Encourage readers to step outside their comfort zone and try out authors and/or series they weren’t drawn to at first Write concise, focused news reports Give details about an event Write with a sense of drama Bend II: Drafting and Revising with an Emphasis on Bringing Out Our Intended Meaning Adopt the tone the style of an investigative journalist Write about topics and events that are important to me and my community unicycle, bicycle, tricycle) Reading Minilessons The Reading Strategies Book by Jennifer Serravallo Writing About Reading 13.12 What Happened/What It Makes Me Think T-Chart p. 366 13.13 Lifting a Line p. 367 13.17 Compare Books for New Ideas p. 371 Gail Gibbons Jean Fritz Bobbi Kalman Melissa Stewart Texts by the same series: DK Readers National Geographic Kids Main Read Alouds: (feel free to choose topics that you are studying in Science or S.S.) Hurricanes by Seymour Simon Hurricanes by Gail Gibbons Tornadoes by Seymour Simon Planet Earth by Gail Gibbons Tornadoes! By Gail Gibbons Writing Local newspapers Interviews Assessments Informal running records as needed Standards Calkins Reading Workshop (Bends) Calkins Writing Workshop (Bends) Other Literacy Components Read Aloud And Testing As A Genre Resources/Assessments 4th Grade: Unit 6 – April 4th Grade: Unit 6 – April Test Preparation (Curricular Calendar Unit 6) Test Preparation Word Study Reading and writing testing words Assessments: Reading: Running Records
Use fiction reading skills to puzzle over clues Make observations about characters’ traits and feelings, then grow ideas about the characters Grow ideas and theories based on observations Bend II: Reading Across Mysteries Compare and contrast the actions of characters and the plots, sub-plots, and settings of stories within and across series Growing as readers to read more complex mysteries Bend III: Mystery Readers Learn Life Lessons from Books Focus on interpretations Take away life lessons by studying characters and plot lines Determine central messages by identifying how they are conveyed through key details Compare and contrast themes across mysteries Anthology has a common theme Demonstrate ways to take on different perspectives and approaches within the same topic Bend II: Generate Ideas for Anthologies and Collect Poems Continue gathering ideas for anthologies Revise poems towards a bigger theme Revise on the run and mimic the work of published authors Bend III: Get Strong Drafts Going and Revise All Along Drafting and revising go hand in hand Continue writing new poems while revisiting and revising old poems Turn prose into poetry by bringing out the intended meaning of the poem Bend IV: Edit Poems and Assemble Anthologies for Publication Teach children how to publish in meaningful ways Edit and publish to highlight the important messages and themes The Reading Strategies Book by Jennifer Serravallo Characters 6.11 Character Comparisons p. 176 6.13 Yes, But Why? P. 178 6.17 Talk and Actions as Windows p. 182 6.18 Complex Characters p. 183 6.19 More Than One Side p. 184 6.20 Conflict Brings Complexity p. 185 6.21 Piling Together Traits to Get Theories p. 186 6.23 What’s in a Character’s Heart? p. 188 Plot 5.6 Reactions Help You Find the Problem p. 139 5.7 Series Books Have Predictable Plots p. 140 5.8 What’s Your Problem? P. 141 Themes 7.9 Compare Lessons Across Books in a Series p. 202 7.12 Dig Deeper to Find a Story’s Topics p. 205 7.20 Respond to Issues that Repeat p. 213 Two Minute Mysteries Writing This Place I Know: Poems of Comfort by Georgia Heard Extra Innings: Baseball Poems by Lee Bennett Hopkins If You’re Not Here, Please Raise Your Hand: Poems About School by Kalli Dakos Fine Feathered Friends by Jane Yolen Roots and Blues: A Celebration by Arnold Adoff Revision: (If…Then…Curriculum pgs. Assessments Reading: Running Records