how the grade 4 program is organized · classroom writing community while inspiring the students to...

Being a Writer™ Scope and Sequence, Grade 4 © Center for the Collaborative Classroom 13

Teaching the Program

How the Grade 4 Program Is OrganizedIn the Being a Writer program at grade 4, there are nine units, each varying in length from one to six weeks. Each week has five days of instruction.

UNITS 1 AND 2

We intend for these units to be taught in order at the beginning of the year. Unit 1 builds the classroom writing community while inspiring the students to tap into their intrinsic motivation to write by drafting many pieces in a variety of genres. Unit 2 introduces them to the writing process as each student selects a draft to revise, proofread, and publish. During these first two units, the students learn the processes, procedures, cooperative structures, and social skills they need to successfully participate in the writing community throughout the year.

GENRE UNITS

The genre units focus on personal and fictional narrative, expository (informative) nonfiction, functional nonfiction, opinion writing, and poetry. They may be taught in any order, although we recommend that you teach the expository nonfiction unit later in the year. Each genre unit begins with an immersion period in which the students hear and read many examples of the genre. During this time, the students try their hand at writing drafts in that genre. Midway through most genre units, each student selects one draft to develop, revise, proofread, and publish for the classroom library.

UNIT 9

Unit 9, the last unit, is taught at the end of the year to help the students reflect on their growth as writers and as members of the classroom writing community.

OVERVIEW OF INSTRUCTION

The Being a Writer program comprises 30 weeks of instruction, which allows time for you to:

• Extend or finish units that take longer than expected

• Provide free writing time so students can practice what they have learned

• Confer with students in a way that is more general than is suggested in the units


• Teach Writing About Reading activities, Extensions, and/or Technology Mini-lessons

• Teach a unit from the Writing Performance Task Preparation Guide

• Teach writing content not introduced in the Being a Writer program

As you plan the instruction for the year, you might want to build in additional time for these activities. (For example, after the opinion writing unit, you might set aside time to teach the opinion writing unit in the Writing Performance Task Preparation Guide.)

Sample Calendar for Grade 4

Unit Title Length Focus

FALL

1 The Writing Community 3 weeks

Build a caring community and get to know one anotherGet ideas for writing from read-aloudsDraft many pieces in a variety of genres

2 The Writing Process 2 weeks

Select drafts to develop and publishRevise draftsProofread for spelling and conventionsWrite final versions and publish

Genre Personal Narrative 4 weeks

Write about single events from the students’ own livesUse sensory detailsUse transitional words and phrasesExplore strong opening sentences and endings that draw a story’s events to a close

WIN

TER

Genre Fiction 6 weeks

Develop interesting plots that make senseUse sensory details to develop a story’s settingUse interesting adjectivesPunctuate speech

NARRATIVE WRITING UNIT FROM THE WRITING PERFORMANCE TASK PREPARATION GUIDE (1 WEEK)

Genre Expository Nonfiction* 6 weeks

With a partner, research and write a report about a countryExplore expository text features to include in reports (e.g., author biography sections, tables of contents)Take research notes and organize them by topic

INFORMATIVE/EXPLANATORY WRITING UNIT FROM THE WRITING PERFORMANCE TASK PREPARATION GUIDE (1 WEEK)

(continues)


Sample Calendar for Grade 4

Unit Title Length FocusSP

RIN

G

Genre Functional Writing* 3 weeks

Write directions for recipes, drawing cartoons, and gamesExplore audience, purpose, sequence, accuracy, completeness, and clarity in directions

Genre Opinion Writing 3 weeks

Identify audience and purpose for opinion writingWrite clear statements of opinion supported by reasonsExplore strong openings and conclusions that restate the opinion

OPINION WRITING UNIT FROM THE WRITING PERFORMANCE TASK PREPARATION GUIDE (1 WEEK)

Genre Poetry 2 weeksExplore imagery, sound, and form in poetryTap into creativity

9Revisiting

the Writing Community

1 weekReflect on growth as writers and as community membersPlan summer writing

* Expository Nonfiction in Being a Writer corresponds to Informative Writing in the CCSS. Functional Writing corresponds to Explanatory Writing in the standards.

(continued)


Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5

Week

1Getting Ideas for Writing:Sylvester and the Magic PebbleFocus: •Magic objects

Getting Ideas for Writing:WizzilFocus: •Turning into something

Learning About an Author:“About William Steig”Focus: •William Steig

Getting Ideas from Poetry:“I’m Sorry!” and “I’m Much Too Tired to Play Tonight”Focus: • Funny poems

Getting Ideas from Poetry:“The Fly Is In”Focus: •Pattern poems

Week

2Getting Ideas from Our Own Lives:The Bicycle ManFocus: • Ideas from own lives

Getting Ideas from Our Own Lives:Tea with MilkQuick-write: • Ideas from own lives

Learning About an Author:“About Allen Say”Focus: •Allen Say

Exploring a Prewriting TechniqueQuick-write: •Writing from a favorite sentence

Exploring Point of View:The Bicycle Man and Tea with MilkFocus: • First- and third-person points of view

Week

3Getting Ideas for Writing:Desert VoicesQuick-write: •Using I to write as an animal

Getting Ideas from Nonfiction:Everything ReptileQuick-write: •Generating nonfiction topics

Getting Ideas from Nonfiction:Everything ReptileQuick-write: •Generating questions about a nonfiction topic

Focus: •Generating nonfiction topics

Getting Ideas from Nonfiction and Pair ConferringFocus: •Non-book examples of nonfiction

Exploring a Prewriting Technique and Pair ConferringQuick-write: •Making lists

UNIT 1: THE WRITING COMMUNITY



Week

1Selecting and Completing Drafts“More About Allen Say”Focus: •Allen Say

Analyzing and Revising DraftsFocus: •Guided revision to clarify and delete

Pair ConferringFocus: •Asking questions

Analyzing and Revising DraftsFocus: •Guided revision to generate alternatives to overused words

Analyzing and Revising DraftsFocus: •Guided revision of opening sentences

Week

2Pair ConferringFocus: • Initiating pair conferences

ProofreadingFocus: •Spelling

Proofreading and PublishingFocus: •Punctuation and capitalization

PublishingFocus: •Making books

PublishingFocus: •Author’s Chair sharing

UNIT 2: THE WRITING PROCESS


GENRE: PERSONAL NARRATIVEDay 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5

Immersion and Drafting

Week

1Exploring Personal Narrative:“First Days” and “Mama Sewing”Quick-write: •Early memories

Exploring Personal Narrative:“Joe Louis”Focus: •Single experiences

Exploring and Drafting Personal Narrative:“A Snake Named Moon”Quick-write: •Single interesting events

Exploring and Drafting Personal Narrative:“The Missing Moon”Focus: •Sensory details

Exploring and Drafting Personal NarrativeFocus: •Sensory details

Week

2Exploring and Drafting Personal Narrative:“Hot Rolls”Quick-write: •Sensory details about breakfast

Exploring and Drafting Personal Narrative:“Learning the Hard Way”Focus: • Lessons learned

Exploring and Drafting Personal Narrative:“The Mirror”Focus: •Experiences from which something was learned

Exploring and Drafting Personal Narrative:“Little Things”Quick-write: •Respect for older family members

Exploring Personal Narrative and Pair ConferringFocus: •Transitional words and phrases

Revision, Proofreading, and Publication

Week

3Selecting and Completing DraftsFocus: •What to look for when selecting drafts

Analyzing and Revising DraftsFocus: •Sensory details

Analyzing and Revising DraftsFocus: •Transitional words and phrases

Analyzing and Revising DraftsFocus: •Strong opening sentences

Analyzing and Revising DraftsFocus: •Endings that draw a story’s events to a close

Week

4Self-assessing and Pair ConferringFocus: •Giving and receiving feedback

ProofreadingFocus: •Commonly misused words and sentence fragments

ProofreadingFocus: •Spelling, punctuation, and run-on sentences

PublishingFocus: •Class book features



GENRE: FICTIONDay 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5


Week

1Exploring Fiction:Tar Beach

Focus: • Imaginary vs. real events

Exploring Fiction:Night of the Gargoyles

Focus: •Objects that come to life

Drafting Fiction:Miss Rumphius

Focus: • Interesting people

Drafting Fiction:Miss Rumphius

Quick-write: • Interesting people

Drafting Fiction and Pair Conferring:Miss Rumphius

Focus: •Revealing character through speech

Week

2Drafting Fiction:Owl Moon

Focus: •Setting

Drafting Fiction:Owl Moon

Quick-write: •A favorite place

Drafting Fiction:Roxaboxen

Focus: • Imaginary places

Drafting Fiction:Roxaboxen

Focus: •Sensory details to describe setting

Drafting Fiction and Pair ConferringFocus: •Sensory details to describe setting

Week

3Drafting Fiction:The Day of Ahmed’s Secret


Drafting Fiction:The Day of Ahmed’s Secret

Quick-write: •Another favorite place

Drafting Fiction: Morning on the Lake


Drafting Fiction: Morning on the Lake


Drafting Fiction and Pair ConferringFocus: •Sensory details to describe setting


Week

4Selecting and Completing Drafts:“About Jane Yolen”Focus: • Jane Yolen

Analyzing and Revising DraftsFocus: •Developing characters

Analyzing and Revising DraftsFocus: •Developing plot and using transitional words and phrases

Analyzing and Revising DraftsFocus: •Endings that bring a story’s events to a close

Pair ConferringFocus: •Character and plot

Week

5Analyzing and Revising DraftsFocus: •Setting and descriptive language

Writing Second DraftsFocus: • Improving on first drafts

Writing Second DraftsFocus: •Adjectives

Writing Second DraftsFocus: • First- and third-person points of view

Self-assessing and Pair ConferringFocus: •Elements of fiction

Week

6Completing Second Drafts and ProofreadingFocus: •Punctuating speech

ProofreadingFocus: •Recognizing and correcting run-on sentences

ProofreadingFocus: •Punctuating for effect

PublishingFocus: •Writing final versions



GENRE: EXPOSITORY NONFICTIONDay 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5

Immersion and Topic Exploration

Week

1Exploring Nonfiction:AustraliaFocus: •Countries of interest

Exploring Nonfiction:Kenya: A Question and Answer BookQuick-write: •Generating questions about countries

Exploring Nonfiction:MexicoFocus: •Exploring countries

Exploring Nonfiction:A Visit to ItalyFocus: •Topics about countries

Exploring Nonfiction:A Visit to ItalyFocus: •Topics about countries

Week

2Exploring Nonfiction:The Ultimate Fact BookFocus: • Learning about an author

Exploring Nonfiction:A Visit to JapanQuick-write: •What I want to know about a country

Exploring Nonfiction:A Visit to JapanQuick-write: •What I want to know about a country

Exploring Nonfiction:The Ultimate Fact BookFocus: • Facts about countries

Exploring Nonfiction and Pair ConferringFocus: • Listing countries and narrowing choices

Topic Selection, Research, and Drafting

Week

3Selecting TopicsFocus: •Selecting a country to research; pre-research writing

Developing Research QuestionsFocus: •Generating research questions and reviewing sources of information

Researching and Taking NotesFocus: •Choosing effective terms for Internet searches

Researching and Taking NotesFocus: •Taking notes

Researching and Taking NotesFocus: •Taking notes

Week

4Researching and Taking NotesFocus: •Reviewing and adding to notes

Organizing ResearchFocus: •Organizing information and researching further where necessary

Drafting and Pair ConferringFocus: •Developing the topic with facts and examples

Drafting and Pair ConferringFocus: •Using transitional words and phrases

Drafting and Pair ConferringFocus: •Drafting


Week

5Drafting and Pair ConferringFocus: • Interesting introductions

Drafting and Pair ConferringFocus: •Endings that wrap up a report

Analyzing and Revising DraftsFocus: •Checking for order, interest, and completeness

Group ConferringFocus: •Does it all make sense?

Drafting and Pair ConferringFocus: •Author biography sections

Week

6Revising and ProofreadingFocus: •Spelling, punctuation, and run-on sentences

ProofreadingFocus: •Sentence fragments

Writing Final VersionsFocus: •Completing final versions and tables of contents

Writing Final Versions and PublishingFocus: •Author’s Chair sharing





Week

1Exploring Functional WritingFocus: •Giving directions; writing about how to make a sandwich

Exploring Functional Writing:“Carrot Salad” and “Carrot and Raisin Salad”Focus: •Audience and purpose; writing a recipe

Exploring Functional Writing:1-2-3 Draw Cartoon People

Focus: •Directions for drawing cartoon characters

Exploring Functional Writing:“Expressions” and “Making a character”Focus: •Comparing two sets of directions for drawing cartoon characters

Exploring Functional WritingFocus: •Drafting directions for drawing a cartoon character

Week

2Exploring Functional Writing:1-2-3 Draw Cartoon PeopleFocus: •Exploring sequence; revising directions for drawing a cartoon character

Exploring Functional Writing:The Book of Cards for KidsFocus: •Exploring completeness

Exploring Functional WritingQuick-write: •Games we know how to play

Selecting TopicsFocus: •Drafting game directions

Drafting and Revising:“1, 2, 3 Dragon” and “Catching Stars”Focus: •Exploring accuracy and clarity; revising game directions


Week

3Group Conferring and RevisingFocus: •Conferring about game directions; revising if necessary

Analyzing and RevisingFocus: •Using modal auxiliaries, such as can, may, and must

ProofreadingFocus: •Spelling, punctuation, and grammar; writing final versions


Writing Final Versions and PublishingFocus: •Reflecting on functional writing; Author’s Chair sharing

GENRE: FUNCTIONAL WRITING




Week

1Exploring Opinion Writing:“Bugs Are Creepy”Focus: •What is the author trying to do?

Exploring Opinion Writing:“Insects Are Amazing”Focus: •Audience and purpose

Exploring Opinion Writing:“Helping Other Countries”Quick-write: •Opinions

Exploring Opinion WritingFocus: •Writing opinions and reasons

Exploring Opinion Writing:“It Is Our Money and We Need It”Focus: •Writing opinions and reasons

Week

2Exploring Opinion Writing:“Bike Helmets”Focus: •Choosing an opinion and audience for a persuasive essay

Drafting Persuasive EssaysFocus: •Crafting strong openings and clear statements of opinion

Drafting Persuasive EssaysFocus: •Giving reasons to support opinions

Drafting Persuasive EssaysFocus: •Using transitional words and phrases to connect opinions and reasons

Drafting Persuasive EssaysFocus: •Concluding persuasive essays


Week

3Pair Conferring and RevisingFocus: •Does it make sense?

ProofreadingFocus: •Recognizing and correcting run-on sentences

ProofreadingFocus: • Identifying and indenting paragraphs



GENRE: OPINION WRITING




Week

1Exploring Poetry:“Feeling Ill”Quick-write: • Ideas for a “feeling” poem

Exploring Poetry:“Lullaby” and “lawnmower”Quick-write: • Ideas for poems about objects

Exploring Poetry:“Windy Nights”Quick-write: • Ideas for poems about weather

Exploring Poetry and Pair Conferring:“Up and Down” and “Egg”Focus: •Shapes of poems

Exploring Poetry:“Crickets”Quick-write: • Ideas for poems about animals and things that make noise


Week

2Exploring Poetry:“Over My Toes”Focus: •Alliteration and repetition

Exploring Poetry and Pair Conferring:“cow”Focus: •Animal similes

Selecting and Revising DraftsFocus: • Image, sound, and form

ProofreadingFocus: • Intentionally breaking the rules


GENRE: POETRY



Week

1Reflecting on WritingFocus: •Reflecting on growth as writers

Reflecting on WritingFocus: •Writing to next year’s class about how to be good writers

Reflecting on AuthorsFocus: •Reflecting and writing about a favorite author

Planning for Writing:“Writing Habits of Professional Authors”Focus: •Planning summer writing

Reflecting on CommunityFocus: •Reflecting on growth as community members; thanking classmates

UNIT 9: REVISITING THE WRITING COMMUNITY

how the grade 4 program is organized · classroom writing community while inspiring the students to...

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