Warner & Sower 1

Bonus Chapter

Teaching in Fourth Grade Classrooms

Warner & Sower 2

Reading Instruction in Fourth Grade

• Reading becomes more complex • More difficult vocabulary• Greater conceptual load• Perfecting phonetic knowledge• Large group instruction• Comprehension strategies

Warner & Sower 3

Types of Reading Materials

• Junior Great Books• Reader’s Workshop• Reading in content areas

Warner & Sower 4

Reading Assessment

• Drives instruction• Instructional level• Continuous• Collaborative and reflective• Multidimensional• Developmentally & culturally appropriate• Identify strengths and weaknesses

Warner & Sower 5

Spelling Instruction

• Errors made by mispronunciations

• Letters written out of order

• More than one way to represent a sound

• Lack of knowledge of rules

Warner & Sower 6

Math Instruction

• State-mandated tests• Basic principles• Introduction of new concepts• Metrics • Accelerated Math• Problem solving• The mathematically gifted

Warner & Sower 7

Individual Accountability in Cooperative Learning Groups

• Keep size of groups small• Test students individually• Randomly call on students to present group’s work• Observe students in groups • Assign checker in each group• Have students teach someone else what they learned

Warner & Sower 8

Other Opportunities

• After-school programs• Reading is Fundamental• Student councils• Youth patrols• School stores• Choir/band instruction• Mediation programs

Warner & Sower 9

Other Opportunities (continued)

• Competitions• Newspapers in the Classrooms programs• Outdoor learning center• Fundraising• Young Inventors Awards Program• Destination ImagiNation Program• Girl/Boy Scouts or Campfire Girls/Boys