ELA

Grade / Unit / Title and Unit Overview / Time Frame: / TAKS and TEKS / Enduring Understandings / Essential Questions
4 / 1
A / Relationships
In this unit, students will construct understandings about how to live a readerly life including: understanding relationships between themselves, books and other readers, carving out time for reading, reading for longer durations, and how to focus and maintain meaning before, during, and after reading.
* This unit (1A) is designed to implement procedures for successful Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop which will be ongoing throughout the year. / 10-12 days / TAKS:
1, 2, 3, 4
TEKS:
4.4A, 4.5F,4.7, 4.8, 4.10A, 4.10B, 4.10C, 4.11, 4.12D, 4.12F, 4.12H, 4.12I, 4.14A /
  • Readers make time to read in their lives.
  • Readers make connections to themselves, the texts they read, and the world around them.
  • When reading fiction, readers develop a relationship with the text through the author and the characters.
  • Readers read a variety of texts for entertainment as well as information.
Readers know when meaning is lost and actively seek ways to fix it. /
  • What are ways to carve out real time for reading?
  • How does observing relationships in books help a reader better understand himself/herself?
  • How does talking with others help a reader understand texts read?
  • What can readers do when reading doesn’t make sense?
What can I learn about authors based on the things they write?
5 / 1B / Relationships
Building relationships is an essential part of understanding and appreciating differences. As students develop classroom procedures, learn about characterization, and fact/non-fact they will build relationships and apply these skills with classmates. / 1st six weeks
25 days / TAKS:
1, 2, 3, 4
TEKS:
5.10G, 5.10H, 5.10J, 5.12C, 5.12D, 5.12G, 5.12I /
  • Commonalities help understand and appreciate differences.
  • Good readers recognize fact and opinion in everyday reading.
/
  • What are the elements that build a strong friendship?
  • How is conflict an inevitable part of relationships?
  • How are people transformed through their relationship with others?
  • How do we know the difference between fact and opinion?
  • In what types of literature do we find fact and opinion?

Language of Instruction / Relationships and/or Connections that should emerge / Vocabulary / Text Resources
characterization
character development
plot
dialogue
major ideas
details
supporting evidence
precise
directions and instructions
context
effective reading
draw on experiences
mental images
fact / opinion
generalizations
title
author
illustrator
analyze characters traits
motivations
conflicts
point of view
relationships
outlines / playwright
theater
stage
act
scene
advertisement
customs
central idea
minor character
fluency
instructional level
graphic organizers
effective reading
develop vocabulary
discussion
leader
listening comprehension
literature
journal
passage
prior knowledge
reading strategy
text /
  • Reading is an essential part of our lives that enables us to function in the world in which we live.
  • Reading is an active process that requires much more than just pronouncing words in a given text.
  • Readers make connections with what they read.
/ character
citizen
companion
encourage
friendship
gentlemen
human
neighborhood
praise
pride
peaceful
precious
suspect / Big Books for Shared Reading:
  • Asha in the Attic
  • Native Americans of the Plains and the Eastern Woodlands
  • A Rainbow Year
  • The Rock Band
  • Express Yourself
  • Westward to Oregon
Read Aloud Books:
  • My Rotten Red Headed Older Brother by Patricia Polocco
  • The Pain and the Great One by Judy Blume
  • Honey I Love by Eloise Greenfield
  • Teammates by Peter Golenbock
  • Araboolies by Sam Swope
  • Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman
  • Uncle Jed’s Barbershop by Margaree King Mitchell
  • Grandpa Never Lies by Ralph Fletcher
  • The Hickory Chair by Lisa Rowe Fraustino
  • Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
  • A Day’s Work by Eve Bunting
  • Amelia’s Road by Linda Jacobs Altman
Enrichment Workstations
  • Writing station
  • Listening station

author
characters
context
conventions in
written language
cross-curricular
vocabulary
develop
vocabulary
dictionary
draw on
experiences
effective reading
fact
fluent
grammar
identifiable voice
illustrator
instructional
level
internal
logic/consistency
of stories
interpreting
figurative
language
language
structure
literary terms
multi-meaning
words / opinion
playwright
plot
point of view
precise direction /
instructions
prefixes
punctuation
root words
setting
software
spelling
suffixes
thesaurus/synonym
finder
title
character:
traits
motivations
conflicts
point of view relationships
/
  • Following rules builds life-long respect for authority.
  • Working through conflicts helps strengthen relationships. Ex. Learning to reason with friends teaches problem-solving skills.
  • Collaborative efforts through projects builds relationships.
  • Knowing fact and non-fact affect decision making.
  • Differences shape relationships.
/ comrade
connect
descendant
fury
generation / meek
peer
relative
solemn
timid
/ Travel Brochures/Newspaper articles
Books
  • Unique Monique by Marie Rousaki
  • If the World was a Village by David Smith
  • If You Could Wear My Sneakers by Sheree Fitch
  • The Spider and the Fly by Tony DiTerlizzi
  • The Other Sideby Jacqueline Woodson
  • The Graduation of Jake Moon by Barbara Park
  • Juan Verdades: The Man Who Couldn't Tell a Lie by Joe Hayes
  • The Spider and the Fly by Tony DiTerlizzi
  • If You Could Wear My Sneakers by Sheree Fitch
Benchmark:
  • Bread and Roses
  • Animal Adventures
  • Native People
  • Trackers of Dynamic Earth
  • From Pyramids to Skyscrapers
  • Portraits in Greatness
  • Plant Genetics
Navigators:
  • Having Healthful Habits
Kilgo Skill Bag:
  • #9 Trouble Brewing
  • #13 Yourself
  • #12 Will I get the part? (Poster)
Big Book:
  • My Friend
Animal Acrobats

Page 2