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Subject

English

Grade

4th

Course Syllabus

Prof. Maria P. Rouco

In fourth grade, with the Cambridge Primary (English as a First Language - Stage 5), the students embark a wonderful journey into literacy where they learn to think within, beyond and about the text through different text analysis at grade level. Through reading and writing mini lesson, Interactive Read Aloud, Shared Reading, Guided Reading and Writing, our children learn to identify the explicit and implicit meaning, extract key points and group and link ideas, and provide accurate textual reference from more than one point in a story to support answers to questions and expressing a personal point of view. Additionally, children begin to interpret imagery and techniques when reading and performing narrative poems.

As writers, they write their own versions of legends, myths and fables, using structures from reading, as well as non-chronological reports and letters, opinion pieces, and poems elaborating on basic information with some details, identifying impact of word choice and adopting a viewpoint as a writer. As English speakers, our students acquire accuracy, fluency, and expression taking some notice of punctuation, including speech marks. Finally, the students use knowledge of punctuation and grammar to read aloud age-appropriate texts with fluency, understanding and expression to engage the listener.

Course Description

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Course Syllabus

Semester 2

Semester 1

Reading comprehension

Persuasive text.
Biased news reports.
Campaign, diaries.
Textual reference to support answers.
Expressing a personal point of view.
Reading narrative poems.
Drama.
Imagery and techniques.
Figurative language.

Writing

Persuasive essay.
Research report.
Compare and contrast essay.
Persuasive reports.
Letter writing.
Reviews.
Play writing.
Writing commentaries.
Justifying personal views.
Proofreading and editing.

Speaking/listening

PBL. presentations.
Present arguments.
Describe events.
Convey opinions.
Performing narrative poems.
Raps, poems, songs.

Grammar

Pronouns.
Prepositions.
Spelling patterns for plurals.
Synonyms and antonyms.
Pronouns, possessive pronouns, relative pronouns.
Subordinating connectives.
Prepositions, prepositional phrases.
Spelling.
Punctuating dialogues.

Reading comprehension

Fictional stories, narratives.
Legends, myths and fables.
Informational text.
Explanatory text
Non fiction stories.
News articles.
Word choice.
Adopting a viewpoint as a writer.
Implicit and explicit meaning.
key points and ideas.

Writing

Narrative writing, inventing stories.
Informational writing,
Explanatory text.
Literary essay.
Letter.
Journal writing, reflections.
Proofreading and editing.
Predictions.

Speaking/listening

Fictional stories from storyline online, story telling.
Nonfiction stories from storyline online, explaining or informing about a topic.
Accuracy, fluency, and expression.
Punctuation, including speech marks.

Grammar

Independent and dependent clauses.
Pronoun verb agreement; subject verb agreement.
Verb tenses.
Direct and reported speech.
Prefixes and suffixes. Greek and Latin roots.
Homophones.
Adverbs.
Commas and quotations, capitalization.

*SUBJECT TO CHANGES DUE TO THE COVID-19 CONTINGENCY PLAN*

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Course Syllabus

Semester 2 Learning Intentions

Semester 1 Learning Intentions

Explain how text structures assist in understanding the text.

Encounter and decode unfamiliar words using phonic, grammatical, semantic and contextual knowledge.

Use language features to show how ideas can be extended.

Create imaginative, informative and persuasive texts for different purposes and audiences

Edit their work for cohesive structure and meaning.

Understand how language features, images and vocabulary influence interpretations of characters, settings and events.

Describe how events, characters and settings in texts are depicted and explain their own responses to them.

Contribute actively to class and group discussions, taking into account other perspectives.

When writing, they demonstrate understanding of grammar using a variety of sentence types.

Analyse and explain literal and implied information from a variety of texts

Listen and ask questions to clarify content.

Develop and explain a point of view about a text, selecting information, ideas and images from a range of resources.

Make presentations which include multimodal elements for defined purposes.

Select specific vocabulary and use accurate spelling and punctuation..

*SUBJECT TO CHANGES DUE TO THE COVID-19 CONTINGENCY PLAN*

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Resources

Class Rules

Homework Policy

Learning Activities

Standardized Tests

Quarterly exams.
Quizzes
Oral Presentations.
Debate.
Forum.
Plan Lector activities.
Writing.
Performances.
Compositions.
PBL.
Exit Tickets.
Worksheets.
Assessment menu.
Final product from mini lessons on reading and writing.
Writing portfolio.
Listening activities.
Spelling test.
Vocabulary test.

-Scholastic LitPro

-Cambridge Progression test Stage 5

Classroom Library.
Plan Lector.
Scholastic online Library.
Units of Study of Balanced Literacy for writing grade 4.
Units of Study of Balanced Literacy for Reading Grade 4:
IXL
NEWSELA
EPIC stories online
Super teachers Worksheet.
Reading Plan lector books.

-The Plan Lector book needs to be brought to class. It can be used at any moment.
-Materials need to be on the desk for the beginning of the lesson.
-A good disposition to work and to read is paramount.
-Students are held accountable for taking notes during the lesson.
-Respect and responsibility are two main core values in the class.
-A dictionary is recommended for the lessons.
-Late work, after 2 school days, is penalized.
-The classroom library can be used at any time during the lesson but these books cannot be taken home.
-The books of the plan lector are being used year after year by the students. Therefore, to keep the book complete, it is mandatory to return the plan lector after reading it in order to receive the next plan lector book.

There is an assigned day per week for homework. 80 minutes per week.

The reading time at home 20-40 minutes per week.