4th Grade English Language Arts: Unit 4 of 4 of Fourth Grade ELA (Flex)

Unit 4 of Fourth Grade English Language Arts uses informational text to teach common core standards, covering literature, foundational skills, writing, speaking and listening. Students practice reading for fluency, comprehension and vocabulary. They will learn to look for the main idea and supporting details, sequencing and time words, and more. There is a strong focus on grammar, which includes commonly confused words, tricky verbs, synonyms and antonyms, and capitalization rules. There are weekly spelling word lists for learners to practice and a spelling quiz. There are also weekly writing assignments with students practicing opinion writing, letter writing, poetry, dialogue, and using reference materials for research. 

I have bachelor’s degrees in English, journalism, and political science, and am currently a master’s student in American history. I was a newspaper editor and reporter for 15 years, director of a social justice center for three years, and have been teaching English Language Arts, English as a second language, and social studies for the past five years. 

This flex class is for learners who just want to practice their English Language Arts Skills, as well as students who want to get a letter of competition. For learners who are just practicing skills, homework is optional but highly recommended. For those learners seeking a letter of completion, there is 4 hours of homework to be completed each week. Homework includes a weekly reading and writing assignment, as well as worksheets, online quizzes and other learning projects. 

Weekly Evaluation Rubric 

Reading: 20 Points 
- 3-Minute Reading Aloud Recording 5 Points
- Comprehension Quiz 5 Points
- Classroom Discussion Question Participation 5 Points
- Vocabulary Quiz 5 Points 

Spelling: 15 Points
- Writing Each Word 3 Times 5 Points 
- Spelling Word Project 5 Points 
- Spelling Quiz 5 Points

Grammar: 15 Points
- Grammar Worksheet 5 Points
- Grammar Project 5 Points
- Grammar Quiz 5 Points

Classroom Journal: 10 Points

Writing Assignment: 40 Points 

No live meetings, and an estimated 2 - 4 hours per week outside of class.

I will provide PDF readers for materials covered in Units 4. Materials will be from a myriad of sources including NewsELA, the Zinn Education Project, and Learning for Justice.