Literacy
Dunlap classrooms use a comprehensive reading and writing program published by Rigby. Literacy By Design uses a balanced literacy approach, with modeled, guided, interactive, and independent lessons in both reading and writing. Students are taught on grade level skills and strategies during whole group instruction. Small group instruction is used daily to reach learners of all levels. Each reading theme is linked to Social Studies or Science standards.
Theme progress tests are given at the end of every theme (approximately every ten days). Use these study guides throughout the ten day theme to help prepare you for the test.
Theme progress tests are given at the end of every theme (approximately every ten days). Use these study guides throughout the ten day theme to help prepare you for the test.
Theme 13 Study Guide
Theme 14 Study Guide Theme 15 Study Guide Theme 16 Study Guide |
Each student is also working hard to complete individual 40 Book Challenges!
Weekly Blogging Expectations:
- Introduce text clearly
- State your opinion about the text.
- Include at least 2 facts and details to support your opinion.
- Include at least 1 accurate quote explaining each fact or detail (with page #)
- State your conclusions, restating your opinion.
Reading Instruction
ComprehensionWe will be practicing and using eight key comprehension strategies. Comprehension strategy organizers are attached below. Students will:
Make Connections Infer Ask Questions Determine Importance Monitor Understanding Synthesize Create Images Use Fix-Up Strategies. Each strategy will be repeated a second time in the year with a more specific focus. Organizers are attached below. Make Connections: Compare/Contrast Infer: Author's Purpose Ask Questions: About Visuals Determine Importance: Rank Information Monitor Understanding Synthesize: Summarize Create Images: Use Visuals Use Fix-Up Strategies: Read On |
VocabularyOur vocabulary instruction uses a six-step approach to learning words. The first three steps are used to introduce a new word and the last three steps are used to sharpen understanding.
Explain: The teacher explains the word through a picture, description, and example. Restate: Students restate the description or example in their own words. Show: Students draw a picture, symbol, or graphic of the word. Discuss: The class has a structured vocabulary discussion. Refine and Reflect: Students return to their notebooks to refine entries. Apply: Students are involved in games that allow them to play with words. We will use this vocabulary journal for all words. Click here for a list of all vocabulary words for the year. |
FluencyFluency is the speed, accuracy, and expression that a person has when reading. We will practice improving fluency through echo reading, choral reading, and rereading selections in our source books. Rereading familiar books and poetry improves fluency.
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Word StudyOur word study is integrated into our reading program. Students will have explicit, formal instruction as well as opportunities to apply their skills in reading and writing. Students will look for and learn patterns in words instead of memorizing rules.
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Writing Instruction
Writing ProcessWe will learn about and use the five steps of the writing process: prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing.
Students will learn more about each step through shared and interactive writing, and then apply their skills through independent practice during writing workshop. |
Writing TraitsStudents will continue to identify and develop the qualities, or traits, of good writing. We will study how many different authors develop their craft as we develop our traits of good writing: ideas, organizations, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, conventions, sentence fluency, conventions, and presentation.
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Literature and GenreFifth grade writers will be provided with models of quality writing. They will be exposed to a variety of both fiction and nonfiction genres. Students will practice nonfiction forms such as observation logs, expository, persuasive, and descriptive. For all of our writing, students will learn to determine and use the most appropriate genre and graphic organizer for the writing they have in mind.
Writing genres we will learn about this year are: Personal Narrative Realistic Fiction Procedural Text Poem Young Writers - poetry types Poetry for Kids - poetry types Poetry 4 Kids - poetry writing lessons Writing organizers can be found here: Theme 1 - Personal Narrative Theme 2 - Theme 11 - Observation Log Theme 12 - Story Theme 13 - |
Conventions and GrammarGrammar will be an integrated part of our writing instruction. Students will learn the expectations for
written text. They will learn how to use punctuation marks and language to give their writing voice. Through writing workshop, students will learn the importance of conventions and develop expertise in using them appropriately and effectively. |