Reading
At Salisbury Community School we believe all students can be successful readers. Students and teachers work hard in order to achieve this goal. Students have ample opportunities to self select just-right and challenging books at school and for their at-home reading. We often begin class with a whole class mini lesson highlighting a reading strategy. Students then could be reading independently, with a peer, group or teacher in order to practice the current reading strategy. Students respond about their texts both verbally and in writing. At times students are reading with a group of students in a book club.
Students also engage in a shared grade-level read aloud experience, often a favorite part of the 120 minute literacy block.
Students are encouraged to read at home for 20-25 minutes nightly.
Writing
Students in 4th and 5th grade are expected to write daily. Students will respond to texts in various ways daily, as well as write freely. Students will respond to various short prompts. Students will also write many multi-paragraph essays in the following genres: narrative, informative and opinion. We will be using the Writing Workshop model this year and will continue implementing a new curriculum designed by Lucy Calkins and aligned to the Common Core Standards.
Vocabulary/Spelling
This year students will be working with greek and latin word parts in order to break down many unknown words. In addition to this, students will be provided with direct instruction and activities with a set of grade level words. I find that students become "wordily-wise" with this emphasis on words and are often jumping out of their seats when one of "our" words is used in the real world!
At Salisbury Community School we believe all students can be successful readers. Students and teachers work hard in order to achieve this goal. Students have ample opportunities to self select just-right and challenging books at school and for their at-home reading. We often begin class with a whole class mini lesson highlighting a reading strategy. Students then could be reading independently, with a peer, group or teacher in order to practice the current reading strategy. Students respond about their texts both verbally and in writing. At times students are reading with a group of students in a book club.
Students also engage in a shared grade-level read aloud experience, often a favorite part of the 120 minute literacy block.
Students are encouraged to read at home for 20-25 minutes nightly.
Writing
Students in 4th and 5th grade are expected to write daily. Students will respond to texts in various ways daily, as well as write freely. Students will respond to various short prompts. Students will also write many multi-paragraph essays in the following genres: narrative, informative and opinion. We will be using the Writing Workshop model this year and will continue implementing a new curriculum designed by Lucy Calkins and aligned to the Common Core Standards.
Vocabulary/Spelling
This year students will be working with greek and latin word parts in order to break down many unknown words. In addition to this, students will be provided with direct instruction and activities with a set of grade level words. I find that students become "wordily-wise" with this emphasis on words and are often jumping out of their seats when one of "our" words is used in the real world!