Grade 4

Summer Reading Assignment

June 2013

Dear Fourth Grade Students,

As part of your summer reading assignment, you will be expected to read Lewis and Clark and Me, A Dog’s Tale by Laurie Myers. This book fits into our Unit 1 Theme of Turning Points. As you read, you will be expected to keep a journal, but not just any ordinary journal! You will write journal entries of your adventures from the point of view of Lewis’s dog, Seaman. You should have at least one journal entry per chapter and your journal entries should include details and pictures about the experiences the characters face as they cross the Louisiana Purchase for the first time. Remember-you must write the journal entries from Seaman’s perspective. During the first week of school, we will compare the adventures of Lewis and Clark and Me to the adventures in Spacebusters: The Race to the Moon.

Attached, you will find a rubric for your journal. Please refer to this as you complete your reading assignment.

Finally, I have attached a Recommended Summer Reading Booklist. For each book you read, fill out the attached graphic organizer. Your name will be entered into a raffle on the first day of school to win an EXTRA special prize from my prize box. (Your name will be entered for each book you read!)

Please email me with any questions. Your journals and organizers are due on the first day of school. Good luck!

See you in September!

Mrs. Silvia

Scoring Rubric for Journal Entries

4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Content / Strong voice and tone
that clearly addresses the
purpose for writing. All entries are from Seaman’s point of view. / Appropriate voice and
tone. The purpose is
clear. All of the entries are from Seaman’s point of view. / Attempts to use personal
voice and tone.
Somewhat addresses the
intended purpose. Not all entries include Seaman’s point of view. / The purpose of the journal entries is not clear. There is no evidence of voice and no entries are from Seaman’s point of view.
Comprehension / Many interesting facts and specific text evidence is included to tell about the experiences of the characters crossing the Louisiana Purchase. / Some interesting facts and specific text evidence is included to tell about the experiences of the characters crossing the Louisiana Purchase. / Some facts are included in the journal entry, but there is not clear text evidence shown. / No facts or text evidence from the story have been included in the journal.
Organization / Journal entry is logical and effective. The events of the story are written in order, and several transition words are used. / Journal entry is generally logical and effective. Most events are written in order and some transition words are used. / Journal entry is somewhat illogical and confusing in places. No transition words are used. / Journal entry lacks logical order and organization.
Effort / Exceeds the requirements of the assignment and have put care and effort into the process. / Fulfills all of the requirements of the assignment. / Only some of the requirements of the assignment have been met / Very few of the requirements of the assignment have been met.
Conventions / Journal is highly polished; no grammar or spelling errors. / Journal is polished; maximum of 3 grammar or spelling errors. / Journal is adequate; maximum of 5 grammar or spelling errors. / Inadequate discussion; more than 5 spelling or grammar errors.


Summer Reading Book List

Title Author

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing Judy Blume

Fourth Grade Rats Jerry Spinelli

Side Kicks Dan Santat

Holes Louis Sachar

M. C. Higgins the Great Virginia Hamilton

Walk Two Moons Sharon Creech

You may also complete the graphic organizer with one novel of your choosing. It must be a novel you haven’t read before and must follow a literary format (for example, no comic books, diaries, or picture books.)

Parents, please feel free to sit with your child and read with them. You could each have a copy of the book and have your own literature circle discussions!

Student’s Name: ______Date: ______

Title: ______Author: ______

1.  Did you feel like you were part of the story? Yes No

Explain your answer.

2.  Were you able to guess what was going to happen at the end? Yes No

Explain your answer.

3.  What do you think was the best part of the story?

4.  What was the main problem in the story?

5.  What was the character’s goal?

6.  How was the problem solved? (Resolution/Solution)