4th Grade - Gateway 1

The instructional materials reviewed for Grade 4 meet the criteria for anchor texts being of publishable quality and worthy of especially careful reading and consider a range of student interests.

The texts capture a wide range of student interests using detailed illustrations and rich language that includes the unit academic vocabulary. Texts support student learning and build knowledge of the unit theme. 

• In Unit 1, Week 1, students read Reaching for the Moon by Buzz Aldrin. This is an autobiography that includes facts that are supplemented by unexpected details. This text blends events in the history of flight and space exploration with a few events of Aldrin's life.  
• In Unit 2, Week 4, students read from "Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow” by Joyce Sidman. The illustrations are enticing and the language is age-appropriate.
• In Unit 3, Week 2, students read an excerpt from Mama’s Window by Lynn Rubright. This is a realistic fiction story with compelling characters and a rich sense of family. It is a relatable story about overcoming obstacles and dealing with conflict.
• In Unit 3, Week 4, students read Weslandia by Paul Fleischman. This literary text employs the use of interesting pictures and a seemingly odd character with whom students can relate, especially if they may feel like they don’t belong or are struggling with being different or finding friends. 
• In Unit 4, Week 1, students read an excerpt from Can You Guess my Name? By Judy Sierra. This selection of traditional tales from around the world is age-appropriate, contains strong vocabulary, and colorful illustrations. 
• In Unit 4, Week 5, students read two myths, “Pandora” by Cynthia Rylant and “Race to the Top” by Geraldine McCaughrean. Both contain rich story lines and engaging illustrations. The vocabulary is rigorous and the plots are of high interest for students.
• In Unit 5, Week 3, students read Top 10 Ways You Can Reduce Waste by Nick Winnick. This is an argumentative text that contains rich academic vocabulary and is engaging for students.

The instructional materials reviewed for Grade 4 meet the criteria for materials reflecting the distribution of text types and genres required by the standards at each grade level.

The materials provide multiple opportunities to read a variety of informational and literary texts. Genres include fables, myths, folktales, poetry, and informational texts. 

The following are examples of literature found within the instructional materials:

• In Unit 1, Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai
• In Unit 2, "Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow, Poems” by Joyce Sidman
• In Unit 3, Trombone Shorty by Troy Andrews
• In Unit 4, “Pandora” by Cynthia Rylant
• In Unit 5, Paddle to the Sea by Holling C. Holling

The following are examples of informational text found within the instructional materials:

• In Unit 1, “Twins in Space” by Rebecca Boyle
• In Unit 2, Animal Mimics by Marie Racanelli
• In Unit 3, How Tia Lola Came to (Visit) Stay by Julia Alverez
• In Unit 4, Separate is Never Equal by Duncan Tonatiuh
• In Unit 5, Trashing Paradise by Rukhsana Khan 

The instructional materials reviewed for Grade 4 meet the criteria for texts having the appropriate level of complexity for the grade according to quantitative analysis, qualitative analysis, and relationship to their associated student task.

Anchor texts are placed at the appropriate grade level according to recommendations from the Common Core State Standards. Examples include:

• In Unit 1, Week 2, Rare Treasure: Mary Anning and Her Remarkable Discoveries By Don Brown, 890L. The biography follows a chronological order, beginning with the date of Mary’s birth. The author continues to provide dates of important events as well as Illustrations to help students navigate some of the scientific concepts of uncovering and identifying fossils.
• In Unit 2, Week 1, Feathers: Not Just for Flying By Melissa Stewart, 720L.  Connections between ideas are clearly organized and provide supporting details. Headings help students navigate and understand the text. Illustrations support and assist readers in understanding the text. The subject matter is simple with concrete ideas students will relate to. Students may need some background knowledge on different types of birds and feathers for a deeper understanding of the text. 
• In Unit 3, Week 2, Excerpts from Mama’s Window By Lynn Rubright, 810L. The excerpt is told in chronological order but includes flashbacks to previous events, such as mama’s passing, her dreams, and her decisions. The text includes dialect, such as, “Uncle Free got everythin’ right ’cept these shoes.” Background knowledge of life in the Mississippi Delta and the importance of church and community during this time would be helpful to students.
• In Unit 4, Week 4, The Secret of the Winter Count By Jacqueline Guest, 840L. The plot includes the idea of a dream solving a problem, but the dream is not literal, it is Emma’s confidence that leads her to solve the problem. The third-person narrative is told in chronological order and follows a typical plot structure with a problem, climax, and resolution. The illustrations directly support an understanding of the characters, setting, and events. The story portrays concrete actions that are easy to follow. 
• In Unit 5, Week 5, Trashing Paradise By Rukhsana Khan, 920L. The author’s purpose is explicitly stated on the first page. The first paragraph is meant to draw readers in and not to inform. Starting with paragraph three, the text follows a description text structure. Photographs and captions, diagrams, and maps directly support the text and aid in readers’ comprehension of the problems in Bali.

The following texts have a Lexile level above the grade-level band, yet the qualitative measure and reader and task components make the text accessible for students:

• In Unit 2, Week 4, the poem, “Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow” by Joyce Sidman, 1020L.  The Lexile Level is just outside the “Stretch” Lexile Level (740-1010). The task of Shared and Close Read provides the student the opportunity to develop their skill development and knowledge of poetry and the topic through the guidance of the teacher.
• In Unit 4, Week 1, Traditional Tales, Can You Guess My Name? By Judy Sierra, 1060L. The illustrations of the characters and events directly support each tale but are not necessary for understanding the theme or central idea. The maps help students see where each tale originates. The tales include experiences and characters that will be unfamiliar to students but can be easily discerned through the description. Each tale is from a different culture, which could confuse students, but additional background knowledge of traditional tales will help increase understanding.

The instructional materials reviewed for Grade 4 meet the criteria that anchor texts and series of texts connected to them are accompanied by a text complexity analysis and rationale for purpose and placement in the grade level. 

The Getting Started section contains a detailed text complexity analysis and rationale for each anchor texts in all units. Under the Table of Contents for each unit, a Text Complexity Charts tab is accessible and includes information on recommended placement, quantitative measures, complexity levels, qualitative measures, and reader and task considerations for each weekly shared reading text. Less detailed information for supporting Book Club texts and Leveled Readers can also be found in the unit Table of Contents by clicking on the appropriate tab. All anchor texts include a quantitative and qualitative analysis complete with Reader and Task Considerations to enable planning for diverse student needs including English Language Learners, intervention, and on-level/advanced students.

There are Visual Charts for complexity levels in the areas of meaning/purpose, text structure, language conventionality and clarity, and knowledge demands that rate each on a colored grid from “simple” to “very complex” in tandem with a clear and explicit qualitative rationale for each. The Teacher's Edition lists descriptions for leveled readers and how they connect to the theme and essential question. A drop-down link for the leveled readers contains a pdf guide complete with the title and author, Lexile level, guided reading level, DRA level, and instructional notes. The leveled readers are leveled for differentiation and not anchored to grade level instruction. Guidance is provided for the teacher using teaching points and ELL supports. The Program Overview in the digital materials has a link titled, Text Rationale and Diversity. In this link, the publisher provides a general rational that states, “Texts were chosen based on criteria such as literary merit, author’s craft, themed, gender, and cultural representations/experiences, insight, readability and diversity.”

• In Unit 1, Week 4, Life at the Top by Veronica Ellis, an informational text with a Lexile level of 860. The quantitative measures place this text in the Grade 4-5 complexity band. The qualitative measures suggest that students might need additional support with Language: Pronouns this and those and Knowledge Demands: How the body functions. "Before reading this selection, the teacher should use the Reader and Task Considerations to plan how to address various student populations." Qualitative Considerations include:
• Levels of Meaning/Purpose: The author’s purpose is explicitly stated on the first page. Athletes live by the idea that altitude builds stronger hearts, more efficient lungs, and better endurance. Some athletes train at high altitudes to become better athletes. The author clearly gives the background and science for high-altitude training and discusses athletes who have experienced it.
• Text Structure: Connections between ideas are explicit and clear. Text features such as headings help readers navigate the content. Graphics, such as maps, diagrams, and photographs, support the content but are mostly supplementary to understanding the text. 
• Language Conventionality and Clarity: The sentences are mostly simple with some complex sentences. The vocabulary is mostly familiar, although some is subject-specific (oxygen, altitude, lung capacity, endurance, nutrients). Students may need support with more challenging words (exaggerated, benefits, economy).
• In Unit 2, Leveled Reader, The Urban Jungle by Rosina Thompson, Lexile Level of 930, Guided Reading Level Q, DRA level 40, and a word count of 2,912. Text Characteristics with the structure of this book being compare and contrast. Features include Text Boxes, Photographs, Captions, Glossary, Index.
• In Unit 3, Week 1, Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper, realistic fiction with a Lexile level of 600. The quantitative measures place this text below the Grade 4-5 complexity band. The qualitative measures suggest that students might need additional support with Language: Idioms and Knowledge Demands: Cerebral palsy.  "Before reading this selection, the teacher should use the Reader and Task Considerations to plan how to address various student populations." Qualitative Considerations include:
• Levels of Meaning/Purpose: The excerpt has multiple levels of meaning. While the theme is clear, students might need help understanding Melody’s challenges with communication and movement, which are sometimes described in an implicit way: I had a million thoughts in my head, but I couldn’t share them with anybody.
• Text Structure: The organization is clear and chronological. Graphics such as illustrations and photographs help readers see how the narrator learns to communicate but are not necessary for understanding. Students might benefit from support in understanding the boldfacing of words that indicate how Melody communicates. 
• Language Conventionality and Clarity: The sentences are primarily simple and compound. The vocabulary is mostly familiar and conversational; however, students may need support with the idioms started from scratch, go figure, and hungry for more. 
• Knowledge Demands: The experiences portrayed are uncommon to most readers, and there are references to people, such as Stephen Hawking and Jerry Lewis. Students may need some background knowledge on cerebral palsy to fully understand the story and the narrator’s feelings and experiences.
• In Unit 5, Week 2, Volcanoes by Seymour Simon, informational text with a Lexile level of 960. The quantitative measures place this text in the Grade 4-5 complexity band. The qualitative measures suggest that students might need additional support with Language: Complex sentences and Knowledge Demands: volcanoes.  "Before reading this selection, the teacher should use the Reader and Task Considerations to plan how to address various student populations." Qualitative Considerations include:
• Levels of Meaing/Purpose: The author’s purpose is implied but easy to identify. The topic is clearly stated in the title, and in the third paragraph, the author introduces the purpose-- to describe what scientists know today about “how a volcano works.”
• Text Structure: The informational text has a descriptive text structure. The author uses examples of volcanic eruptions to introduce how volcanoes form, the features of volcanoes, and why they erupt. Text features, such as photographs and a diagram, directly support the content and help readers understand the text.
• Language Conventionality and Clarity: The sentences are mostly simple with some compound and complex sentences. Students may need assistance with multiple phrases in a single sentence. Much of the vocabulary is domain-specific, relating to volcanoes, such as crust, plates, magma, lava.
• Knowledge Demands: The subject matter may be unfamiliar to some students. There are references to ancient gods and goddesses, but knowledge of these is not necessary to understand the content. Background knowledge of volcanoes, particularly Mt. St. Helens and Surtsey, the volcanic island near Iceland, will be helpful.

The instructional materials reviewed for Grade 4 meet the criteria that anchor and supporting texts provide opportunities for students to engage in a broad range of text types and disciplines as well as a volume of reading to achieve grade-level reading proficiency.

The materials provide multiple opportunities each week for students to engage in a volume of reading on grade level. Each week, students hear a Read Aloud text and a Shared Text to anchor instructional activities. Small group lessons are included with Leveled Reader selections that range within the grade level band with additional titles available through the online resource provided. Students also engage in independent reading during Book Club time which offers multiple texts from which students can choose and read. Students participate in Reading Workshop for 10-20 minutes daily and Small Group Independent time for 20-30 minutes daily for a daily total up to 50 minutes. During Week 6, students complete a research project with articles provided for students to read supporting the research task. Throughout the program, students read a wide variety of text types across multiple disciplines. Examples of texts students read include, but are not limited to: 

• In Unit 1, Week 4, during Reading Workshop students read an Infographic “Cool Homes Around the World”, and listen to the Read Aloud, “Early Exploration”, and Shared Read, Life at the Top. 
• In Unit 2, Week 1, Reading Workshop, students read the informational Shared and Close Read, Feathers: Not Just for Flying by Melissa Stewart.
• In Unit 3, Week 5, Poetry Collection, students read “A Day on a Boat” by Gwendolyn Zepeda, “I Will be a Chemist” by Mario Jose Molina, and “I Love Mozart” by Dana Crum.
• In Unit 4, Week 3, students hear the Read Aloud text, “Too Much of a Good Thing;” a Shared text, La Culebra; Leveled Readers How Anansi Got His Stories (Level P), Run Like the River (Level P), The Age of the Vikings  (Level R), The Banquet (Level S), An Epic Tale (Level S), The Simuteller’s Last Tale (Level T); and Book Club Selections, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin, Her Stories by Virginia Hamilton, Separate is Never Equal  by Duncan Tonatiuh, On the Way Home by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Juan Verdades by Joe Hayes, Stockings of Buttermilk  by Neil Philip.
• Ub Unit 5, Week 2, students hear the Read Aloud text, “Mount Vesuvius; a Shared Read text, Volcanoes; Leveled Readers, Digging for Dinosaurs (Level Q), Patterns in Nature (Level R), Adventure in Antarctica (Level S), Force in Energy (Level S), Exploring Our World (Level S), Trouble on Zeplin V (Level T); Book Club Selections, Geology: The Study of Rocks by Susan H. Gray, U.S. Landforms by Diana Meachem Rau, Paddle to the Sea by Holling C. Holling, Morning Girl  by Michael Dorris, What are the 7 Wonders of the World? by Amy Graham, Rain Forest Food Chains by Heidi Moore

The instructional materials reviewed for Grade 4 meet the criteria that most questions, tasks, and assignments are text dependent/specific, requiring students to engage with the text directly (drawing on textual evidence to support both what is explicit as well as valid inferences from the text). 

The materials include questions, tasks, and extension activities that support literacy growth for students over the course of the school year. Throughout all units, particularly the Reading Workshop sections, students are exposed to various genres and multiple readings including a first read, close read, and reflect and share in each lesson. There are three components to each reading lesson under Reading Workshop. All three components during Reading Workshop include questions, tasks, and assignments that are text-dependent/specific. During the first read, students preview vocabulary from the text, preview the text itself, read the text, develop vocabulary and check for understanding. During the close read, using an informational text, students analyze specific concepts such as craft, structure, plot and setting, predictions, and use context clues within the sentence to determine the meaning of vocabulary words. Students also, reflect and share during the Reading Workshop. Students answer a variety of questions related to the texts being read and the discussion supports students drawing on textual evidence to support their learning of literal and inferential information. Students produce evidence from texts to support their opinions or statements when writing and speaking. In addition, there are supports within the materials to assist the student or group of students in order to demonstrate their thinking about the theme or essential question for the week. 

• In Unit 1, Week 4, Reading Workshop: Infographic, “What are the advantages of living in different places?” Students are expected to use the infographic to respond to the question.
• In Unit 1, Week 4, Reading Workshop, after reading Life at the Top students answer, “Which evidence from Life at the Top would be the most convincing in an argument about why all runners should have high-altitude training?”
• In Unit 2, Week 3, Reading Workshop, when reading an excerpt from the book, Minn of the Mississippi by Holling Clancy Holling, students answer, “Highlight evidence in paragraph 8 that helps you understand how the setting affects events, including Minn’s actions.”
• In Unit 2, Week 5, Reading Workshop, students read The Weird and Wonderful Echidna and The Very Peculiar Platypus by Mike Jung and Wade Hudson and “Cite two pieces of text evidence that show the similarities between the two monotremes.”
• In Unit 3, Week 3, Reading Workshop, after reading Trombone Shorty, students answer, “Why does Troy Andrews compare the music in Tremé to gumbo?”
• In Unit 4, Week 1, Reading Workshop, students read Can You Guess my Name by Judy Sierra and “Underline two details in paragraphs 9 through 11 that show how the girl feels about the bargain.”
• In Unit 4, Week 4, Reading Workshop, when reading the book, The Secret of the Winter Count by Jacqueline Guest, students answer, “Emma’s family and the Blackfoot tribe has an approach to finding water that the other group does not. What are those different techniques, and what leads the groups to share information?”
• In Unit 5, Week 2, students answer the Weekly Question: "In what ways do volcanoes impact Earth?"

The instructional materials reviewed for Grade 4 meet the criteria for having sets of high-quality sequences of text-dependent/specific questions and tasks build to a culminating task that integrates skills (may be writing, speaking, or a combination).

The Readers Workshop, Readers Writers Workshop Bridge, and the Writing Workshop provide teacher modeling for sequences of text-dependent questions that allow students to observe, practice, and revise skills independently, with peers, and in groups. Through presentation and discussion of content, students demonstrate their knowledge by completing tasks that include application of learned reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. In Week 6, there is a Project-Based Inquiry task that bridges what was learned in both the Reading and Writing Workshops. The grading rubrics are formatted to assess a student on the final project that includes applying what was learned in Weeks 1-5, as well as presenting on the material.

• In Unit 1, Week 5, Writing Workshop, Publish, Celebrate and Assess, the teacher and students assess personal narratives the student developed earlier in the unit. A rubric is used to evaluate the final draft of the personal narrative. The teacher has the opportunity to distribute a different assessment or use the student’s personal narrative to evaluate learning. Weeks 1-4 of the unit provided instruction on writing personal narratives and practice for students on steps in writing the personal narrative.
• In Unit 2, Week 4, Reading Workshop states, “Before stating an opinion, ask yourself whether you have text evidence to support the opinion. Think about ways you can connect pieces of evidence from different texts to support an opinion. When you include evidence in your own writing, give credit to the author.” 
• In Unit 3, Week 5, Publish Celebrate and Assess, the students connect what was learned in Weeks 1-4 for writing skill development. The students confer with the teacher in the final stages and the final draft is evaluated using a four-point rubric.
• In Unit 4, Week 2, Writing Workshop, Independent Writing, students write an opinion essay. Before writing, students have completed seven Minilessons on writing an opinion essay. The Minilessons are titled, Develop a Topic and Opinion, Develop Reasons, Develop Supporting Details and Facts, Compose a Concluding Statement, Compose Using Technology, Fact vs. Opinion, and Change Your Opinion. 
• In Unit 5, Week 6, the Inquiry-Based Project focuses on skills and knowledge built throughout the unit. Students complete research and write an opinion article about the most dangerous environmental event. Students work through lessons where they research, collaborate, plan and create a brochure, and present their final project.
  

The instructional materials reviewed for Grade 4 meet the criteria for materials providing frequent opportunities and protocols for evidence-based discussions (small groups, peer-to-peer, whole class) that encourage the modeling and use of academic vocabulary and syntax.

Practice for academic vocabulary and syntax are present for each unit in the Turn and Talk and Collaborate sections. Students practice using academic and social language while engaging in evidence-based discussions about the material in smaller groups and within the larger class. Students engage in paired, small group, and whole group discussions at various points in the units. The materials include guidance for teachers in establishing protocols for student discussions throughout the units. Development of discussion techniques and practices are ongoing throughout the units with guiding questions provided to help students develop discussion practices. Suggestions for discussion structure are also provided.

• In Unit 1, Week 1, the Teacher's Edition states, “Have students complete the chart on page 13 for the listed words. Then have partners share their answers using their newly acquired vocabulary.” The Turn, Talk and Share section states, “Have students work in pairs to generate questions about Iceland, its landscape and other topics introduced with the map. Have them clarify questions as needed. Remind students to ask relevant follow up questions to elicit a more detailed response and to take notes about interesting ideas.”
• In Unit 2, Week 2, Writers Workshop Develop an Introduction Minilesson is broken into four different chunks: Teaching Point, Model and Practice, Independent Writing, and Share Block. The Minilesson provides the students with the opportunity to discuss during the Share Block their work, compare it with the texts, and use the appropriate academic language for this specific lesson.
• In Unit 2, Week 4, Reading Workshop, during the poetry Minilesson, students have the opportunity to listen to the poem two times with the teacher completing think alouds and then apply their responses with evidence and academic language within a graphic organizer that will be used during a discussion.
• In Unit 3, Week 4 of the Reading Workshop: Infographic, the Turn and Talk states, “What countries do you think are involved in producing the food you eat every day? How might your diet be different if all of your food came from your own region?”
• In Unit 4, Book Club, Where the Mountains Meet the Moon by Grace Lin, Discussion Chart and Collaboration sentence stems are provided. The teacher provides students with the opportunity to record their thoughts using the sentence stems with evidence from the text to be used while discussing how the texts connect to the week’s theme using the language necessary for syntax and literary development.
• In Unit 5, Week 6 of Compare Across Texts, the Turn and Talk states, “Read the sentence that relates to each selection. Then, with a partner, review the selection and write a question that could be answered by the sentence. Finally, talk to your partner about how the questions and answers relate to the theme.”

The instructional materials reviewed for Grade 4 meet the criteria for materials supporting students’ listening and speaking about what they are reading and researching (including presentation opportunities) with relevant follow-up questions and supports. 

The materials provide a variety of opportunities for students to ask questions and hold discussions with peers and teachers about research, strategies, and ideas throughout each unit. Several opportunities for speaking and listening are in each unit that include both whole group and small group discussions including partner work and peer reviews. 

Students engage in discussion throughout the materials. In addition to the labeled discussions in the text, there are multiple questions for each text that the teacher poses to the class which would lead to class discussions. There is an audio option for students to listen to the text being read to them. Additionally, students engage in Book Clubs that involve reading a text and discussing the text with a peer group. Students regularly have discussions about their writing and the writing process. Each unit also provides an inquiry project that involves collaboration with a group in creating the project and then presenting the project to either a small group or the whole class. There is a Listening Comprehension guide in the Teacher’s Edition of each unit. The materials provide support in the planning, providing graphic organizers or other supports for learning the skills and content, but not specifically for listening, speaking, or presenting with evidence.

• In Unit 1, Week 6, Project-Based Inquiry, students read a Student Model brochure and then talk with a partner on how to create a brochure that presents an argumentative text. Students orally present their brochure to another group they are directed to be sure to make eye contact as they present and speak clearly and at a natural rate and volume. 
• In Unit 2, Week 1, Reading Workshop, students engage in Turn and Talk conversations about informational texts that they have read. The teacher then invites two students to share what they discussed with the whole group.
• In Unit 2, Week 6, Book Club, students engage in small group discussions about the book that they have read with a focus on “students’ ability to effectively share their ideas and build on those of others.”
• In Unit 3, Week 3, there is a Listening Comprehension guide for teachers. The Read-Aloud Routine has students listen actively for the narrative sequence of events. The teacher reads the entire text aloud without stopping. Then the teacher rereads the text pausing to model think-aloud strategies related to the author’s purpose. 
• In Unit 5, Week 5, Respond and Analyze, students discuss how the information in the article affects their viewing of the video. 
• In Unit 5, Week 6, Compare Across Texts, Turn, Talk and Share states, “Have students refer to each selection to find examples of the importance of the Earth’s natural features. Ask students to support their statements with an actual passage from the text. Demonstrate by using the following model about the Himalayas.”

The instructional materials reviewed for Grade 4 meet the criteria for materials including a mix of on-demand and process writing (e.g. multiple drafts, revisions over time) and short, focused projects, incorporating digital resources where appropriate. 

The materials include a balanced variety of on-demand and process writing throughout all lessons. Each unit has a theme for process writing that focuses on developing a specific form of writing that is written and revised over the course of the first five weeks of the unit. Students engage in multiple methods of writing to develop their writing skills including note-taking, checklists, response notebooks, graphic organizers, short answer, and longer essay construction. Students participate in planning, composing, revising, and publishing throughout the unit with individual work, peer conferencing, and teacher conferencing. Each unit contains multiple on-demand writings which are varied in the type of writing and length of writing. Students complete a Process Inquiry Project in Week 6 of each unit that contains a short, focused project that calls for research, writing, revising, and publishing much of which is done on a digital platform. Students respond to text during Readers Workshop their digital notebooks. The Writing Workshop provides longer writing activities that include drafting and editing while the Project-Based Inquiry provides opportunities for students to apply the learned writing skills in a culminating activity. Student writing develops over the course of the year. 

Examples include: 

• In Unit 1, Week 4, Quick Write, students answer, “Which solution for surviving in an environment described here do you think is the most creative?”
• In Unit 2, Week 3, Reading Workshop, the Reflect and Share section states, “Choose two texts that you enjoyed best or found the most interesting. Use these questions to help you annotate, ‘What details describe the setting? How does the setting change? What are the effects of the setting change?’ Review your annotations and use them to write your response.”
• In Unit 3, Week 1, students are introduced to realistic fiction writing. In Week 2, students work on developing the elements of realistic fiction. In Week 3, students develop the structure of realistic fiction writing. In Week 4, students work on writer’s craft for realistic fiction. In Week 5, students publish, celebrate, and assess their realistic fiction writing.
• In Unit 4, Week 2, Readers Workshop, the Reflect and Share states, “Choose two fictional characters who feel something like Thunder Rose’s song. Describe the characters in your own thoughts, words, and actions in detail. Include a description of what you and the characters have in common. On a separate piece of paper, organize your response in two or three paragraphs.”
• In Unit 4, Week 6, the Project-Based Inquiry: the Refine and Research section states, “Read the web article, ‘Who’s your hero?’ Then, on a separate sheet of paper, or in your writing notebook, work with a partner to create a bibliography entry for the article.”
• In Unit 5, Week 4, Reading Workshop, Reflect and Share, after reading The Himalayas students answer the prompt: “The Himalayas are one set of mountains on Earth. Every continent on the planet has mountains that formed due to tectonic forces. Exploring and studying mountains can be dangerous. Why do some people take the risks involved to explore the landforms of Earth? Use evidence from the texts you have read this week to write and support an appropriate response.”

The instructional materials reviewed for Grade 4 meet the criteria for materials providing opportunities for students to address different text types of writing that reflect the distribution required by the standards. 

The materials provide frequent and multiple narrative, informal, and opinion writing opportunities across the school year. Students learn how to develop writing skills through exposure, practice, and application, requiring the use of evidence gathered from the analysis of materials and claims developed from reading and working with a myriad of sources. Materials provide opportunities that build students' writing skills through the use of checklists, models, and rubrics. Students are given opportunities for instruction and practice in a variety of genres addressed in the standards over the course of the school year. Direction and guidance from the teacher provide the support needed for student development as an effective writer. 

• In Unit 1, Week 6, Project-Based Inquiry: Environments, Argumentative Writing, Explore and Plan, this activity provides the students the beginning stages for developing their own personal argumentative writing sample. There are supports within the curriculum to guide students and the teacher in being able to address the expectations for the lesson, while meeting the grade level standards.
• In Unit 2, Week 2, Writing Workshop, Develop a Conclusion, teacher guidance notes, “To conclude a travel article, the writer may, give an opinion about visiting the destination, refer readers to other sources of information, remind readers of the top reason for visiting the destination.” In Week 3, students develop the structure of an informative travel article. In Week 4, students apply writer’s craft and conventions of language to their travel articles. In Week 5, they publish the articles. 
• In Unit 2, Week 4, Reading Workshop, Reflect and Share, the directions read, “What other living things did you read about this week? What other creatures or plants do they depend on? Choose a pair of animals or plants that are closely related. Then gather text evidence to write an opinion paragraph about the question: Is it important to know how living things depend upon one another?”
• In Unit 3, Week 1, Writing Workshop, Historical Fiction, Introduce and Immerse, students work to comprehend the historical fiction genre and its characteristics by completing an activity. Then, the lesson is followed by students developing their own writing sample of a historical fiction story through independent practice.
• In Unit 4, Week 1, Writing Workshop, students plan for writing an opinion essay. The Brainstorm a Topic section of the lesson states, “For an opinion essay, you will need a topic about which you have a point of view or a preference. That point of view or preference will be your opinion.” Students continue working on the opinion essay throughout the unit. In Week 2, students develop supporting details and facts and compose a concluding sentence. In Week 3, students organize supporting details and add transitions. In Week 4, students edit their essays. In week 5, students publish their essays.
• In Unit 5, Week 2, Writing Workshop, Compose like a Poet, students explore and apply what they have learned about poetry by using imagery as they are writing poems. The teacher models the expectations and the students then apply what is learned in their independent practice by composing a poem about an object.

The instructional materials reviewed for Grade 4 meet the criteria for materials including frequent opportunities for evidence-based writing to support careful analyses, well-defended claims, and clear information appropriate for the grade level.

The materials provide tasks that support integrated reading and writing throughout the year. Each unit includes varied opportunities for students to engage, respond, revise, and build upon their learning using texts they read. Writing opportunities are embedded within daily instruction and throughout student activities. Students have several occasions to analyze the text, define their claims, and support their writing with evidence from one or multiple texts. Students use their recall of information to formulate ideas and often use close reading of the text to support those ideas with evidence from the texts. In Weeks 1-5, a Weekly Question is tied to the shared text students read. In the Reflect and Share component of the Reading Workshop, students respond to this question in writing, citing evidence from the text to defend their claim or provide the information requested in the prompt. In Week 6 of each unit, students complete a culminating research inquiry project in which they write in response to text, cite reasons to support their claims and apply their understanding of the unit theme and Essential Question. Teachers support students by modeling how to analyze and respond effectively to build knowledge through evidence-based writing.

• In Unit 1, Week 4, Reading Workshop, the Model and Practice portion of the lesson states, “Now, while I’m reading, I’m going to look for details that support or confirm, my prediction. I will also look for any information that does not support, or contradicts my position. I will write both kinds of details in the Evidence Related to My Prediction box.”  Students then “Work in small groups to use text structure and their notes to correct or confirm a prediction.”
• Unit 2, Week 5, Reading Workshop, after reading The Weird and Wonderful Echidna and The Very Peculiar Platypus, students are directed to respond in writing to the question of the week, “How do adaptations make animals unique?” and use evidence from the texts they have read.  
• Unit 3, Week 2, Reading Workshop, after reading Mama’s Window students write an opinion essay using text evidence. Students respond to the prompt, “Uncle Free states, ‘Sometimes we gotta do things we don’t wanna do James Earle. This here’s one of them times.’ Why do you think he says this to Sugar? Use text evidence to support your opinion.”
• In Unit 4, Week 4, Reading-Writing Workshop, Analyze Author’s Craft, Read Like a Writer, students use the evidence from The Secret of the Winter Count by Jacqueline Guest to identify the use of simile and respond to the following prompt: "What mood does the simile create? How does it work?" 
• In Unit 5, Week 4, Reading Workshop, the directions state, “Have students read paragraphs 12-14 and highlight details about animals in the Himalayas.” Teachers then ask students, “What inference can you make based on the evidence you highlighted. What idea about humans and animals in the Himalayas is expressed?"

The instructional materials reviewed for Grade 4 meet the criteria for materials including explicit instruction of the grammar and conventions standards for grade level as applied in increasingly sophisticated contexts, with opportunities for application both in and out of context. 

Each unit has lessons that incorporate the grammar and conventions standards for Grade 4. Grammar and conventions lessons are primarily addressed during the Reading-Writing Bridge lessons, Writing Workshop, Week 6 lessons, and via digital worksheets. The grammar and convention lessons are structured with teacher modeling, then students practicing the target skill. In addition, there are teacher resources that provide additional lessons, including lessons for English Language Learners, students needing intervention, and small group practice opportunities for students who show mastery of grade level concepts. 

Examples of explicit instruction of the grade level grammar and conventions standards in increasingly sophisticated contexts and student opportunities for application both in and out of context include, but are not limited to:

Use relative pronouns (who, whose, whom, which, that) and relative adverbs (where, when, why).

• In Unit 3, Week 4, Writing Workshop, Use Pronouns, p. 292, the teacher explains that a writer uses pronouns to replace nouns. The teacher explains the five types of pronouns (subjective, objective, possessive, reflexive, and relative). The teacher models using several sentence frames for the student to fill in the appropriate pronoun. The teacher writes who, whose, whom, which, that on the board, and explains that who, whose, and whom refer to people and that which and that refer to animals, objects, and ideas. In the Student Interactive, p. 165, students practice completing each sentence with the correct pronoun.  
• In Unit 5, Week 1, Lessons 2 and 4, Reading-Writing Workshop Bridge, Language & Conventions, Relative Adverbs, pp. 70-71, the teacher explains that relative adverbs join two clauses together, and the teacher displays a table to show where, why, when connecting clauses. The teacher writes a sentence on the board, and the students come up with the correct relative adverb to connect the clauses. Students practice reading to make sure it makes sense. For practice, the students work in pairs to ask each other where, why, when questions and then to respond to the question using a relative adverb in a complete sentence. In the Student Interactive, Lesson 4, p. 460, students use relative adverbs to complete a paragraph.

Form and use the progressive (e.g., I was walking, I am walking, I will be walking) verb tenses.

• In Unit 3, Week 4, Lessons 2 and 4, Reading-Writing Workshop Bridge, Language & Conventions, Progressive Verb Tenses, p. 282-283, the teacher explains that the progressive verb tense shows actions that were, are, or will be happening in the past, present, and future. The progressive verb starts with a helping verb (am, is, are, was, were, or will be) and adding -ing to the verb. The teacher says sentences orally explaining that the progressive verb shows continuing action or activity. Students work with a partner to create sentences with past, present, and future progressive nouns. In the Student Interactive, Lesson 4, p. 160, students practice using completing a verb tense chart as well as edit a paragraph with crossed out verbs to the progressive tense.  

Use modal auxiliaries (e.g., can, may, must) to convey various conditions.

• In Unit 3, Week 5, Lessons 2 and 4, Reading-Writing Workshop Bridge, Language & Conventions, Auxiliary Verbs, pp. 342-343, the teacher introduces auxiliary verbs by writing the same sentence using the the auxiliary verbs will, can, might, should, and must then underlines the auxiliary verb and explains that this verb describes a conditional action. The teacher models a new sentence with varying auxiliary verbs, will, would, might and then students practice using auxiliary verbs may, shall, should, can, could, and must. Students practice with a partner giving a verb and using the verb with an auxiliary verb in a sentence. In the Student Interactive, Lesson 4, p. 188, students complete sentences with the appropriate auxiliary verb.  

Order adjectives within sentences according to conventional patterns (e.g., a small red bag rather than a red small bag).

• In Unit 1, Week 4, Writing Workshop, Edit for Adjectives, p. 278, the teacher points out that adjectives, including comparative and superlative adjectives, to help readers know exactly which person, place, of thing a writer means and models a think aloud on how to write with adjectives to be very specific. In the Student Interactive, p. 149, students look at the chart and choose a text from the stack, and identify a comparative adjective and a superlative adjective. Students discuss what each adjective tells about the noun. The teacher reviews the order of adjectives and explains that a writer may use more than one adjective to describe a noun or pronoun. Students return to the stack text and find an example of multiple adjectives used in the correct order.  

Form and use prepositional phrases.

• In Unit 3, Week 1, Lesson 3, Reading-Writing Workshop Bridge, Language & Conventions, Prepositions, p. T65, the teacher explains a preposition is a word that helps show relationships, can show when or where something happens, and can also tell direction or add to a description. The teacher names an object in the classroom and describes it using prepositions and prepositional phrases.  Students describe other objects in the classroom by forming and using prepositional phrases.
• In Unit 5, Week 4, Writing Workshop, Edit for Prepositional Phrases, p. T286, the teacher reviews definitions of prepositions and prepositional phrases and gives examples. The teacher selects a few texts from the stack, reads them aloud, and points out instances of prepositional phrases. The teacher omits the prepositional phrases while reading in order to show students how less information is given. The teacher displays sentences. Students identify the prepositional phrases. In the Student Interactive, p. 575, the teacher refers to more examples of prepositions and how to use. Students edit their writing to include the use of prepositional phrases. 

Produce complete sentences, recognizing and correcting inappropriate fragments and run-ons.

• In Unit 1, Week 3, Lesson 2, Reading-Writing Workshop Bridge, Language & Conventions, Complete Sentences, Oral Language: Complete Sentences, p. T202, the teacher explains a complete sentence must have a subject and a predicate. The teacher writes examples on the board. Students identify the subject and the predicate and tell whether each is a complete sentence or a fragment. Students write complete sentences and exchanges papers with a partner. For each item, partners identify the subject and the predicate. If the sentence is incomplete, students edit it to make it complete.  
• In Unit 1, Week 4, Lesson 2, Reading-Writing Workshop Bridge, Language & Conventions, Fix Run-On Sentences, p. T270, the teacher defines a run-on sentence as two or more sentences that are joined without correct punctuation or a conjunction, explains a comma splice is a type of run-on that uses a comma to incorrectly connect sentences without also using a conjunction, and that a run-on can be corrected by breaking it up into two complete sentences or by creating a complete compound sentence using a comma and the conjunction, and. The teacher writes groups of words on the board. Students identify them as a complete sentence or a run-on, and corrects each run-on sentence. Students write both simple and compound sentences, exchange papers with a partner, and partners identify if each sentence is complete or a run-on. They correct any run-on sentences.

Correctly use frequently confused words (e.g., to, too, two; there, their).

• In Unit 4, Week 5, Lesson 1, Reading-Writing Workshop Bridge, Word Study, Homophones, p. T346, the teacher explains homophones sound the same but are spelled differently and have different meanings. The teacher uses to, too, and two to explain and repeats the process with the homophones there, they’re, and their. The teacher provides sentences containing the homophones to, too, and two and writes them on the board, underlines the homophones and explains the meaning of each along with the spelling. The teacher repeats the procedure using homophones there, their, and they’re. Students identify the correct homophones for these sentences and explains their meanings. 

Use correct capitalization.

• In Unit 2, Week 4, Writing Workshop, Edit for Capitalization, the teacher reviews the information about capitalization rules in the table on p. 367 of the Student Interactive with the students. The teacher explains when to capitalize articles and prepositions. Students generate examples of words and titles, then talk about which words should be capitalized. The students spend time editing their own written passages to correct for capitalization errors.
• In Unit 3, Week 5, Writing Workshop, Publish, Celebrate, and Assess, Edit for Capitalization, p. T-348, the teacher explains the use of capitalization for races, nationalities, historical periods, documents, events, titles, and languages. The teacher provides example words and titles, using mostly lowercase letters, on the board. Students tell the teacher which words require capitalization. Students complete a digital worksheet on p. 190 on their Student Interactive where they correct capitalization errors in a passage. Students work on their own written passage with a focus on editing for capitalization. Students generate titles for their written passages, then share the titles with the class. Students explain to the class why they chose words in the titles to be capitalized.

Use commas and quotation marks to mark direct speech and quotations from a text.

• In Unit 3, Week 4, Writing Workshop, Edit for Punctuation, p. T-288, the teacher explains that authors use different types of punctuation to convey meaning. The teacher explains that direct speech is punctuated using quotation marks. The teacher writes a sentence on the board with direct speech, verbalizing how to punctuate the sentence using quotation marks. The teacher writes another sentence containing direct speech. Students talk about where the teacher needs to add quotation marks (and other punctuation). In the Student Interactive, p. 162, students edit a paragraph that is missing quotation marks (and other punctuation).

Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction in a compound sentence.

• In Unit 4, Week 4, Writing Workshop, Edit for Complete Sentences, p. T-291, the teacher writes two simple sentences on the board and states how two sentences can be combined using coordinating conjunctions, preceded by a comma. The teacher provides common conjunctions including and, but, and or. The students write the new sentence combining the two simple sentences with a coordinating conjunction preceded by a comma. Students work in pairs to write the new sentences.

Spell grade-appropriate words correctly, consulting references as needed.

• In Unit 1, Week 5, Lesson 3, Reading-Writing Workshop Bridge, Spelling: Spell Words with Prefixes, p. T-347, the teacher reminds the students that adding a prefix to words does not change how the base word is spelled. The teacher writes two sentences on the board with missing words. Both sentences use the same base word for the missing word, one containing a prefix. Students provide the correct version of the base word in the sentences.
• In Unit 5, Week 3, Reading-Writing Workshop Bridge, Spelling: Spell Multisyllabic Words, p. T-209, the teacher reminds the students that their knowledge of syllable division can help them spell words. The teacher writes grade-level, multisyllabic words on the board (i.e., emphasize, technical and partner). Students verbalize how the words are divided. The students use a printed or digital dictionary to look up the spelling of the words.

Choose words and phrases to convey ideas precisely.

• In Unit 2, Week 4, Writing Workshop, Use Linking Words and Phrases, p. T286, the teacher points out that linking words and phrases improve the flow of ideas throughout an article by showing connections between ideas. The teacher displays sentences and explains that both sentences identify ways to make traveling easier and that a connection can be made between the two ideas by adding the linking word also to the beginning of the second sentence and the word also tells readers that the idea in the second sentence is related to the one in the first sentence. The teacher informs students that other common linking words and phrases include for example, another, and because. In the Student Interactive, p. 365 students add linking words and phrases to complete the sentences.

Choose punctuation for effect.

• In Unit 5, Week 3, Writing Workshop, Select Punctuation, p. T218, the teacher reminds students that the use of punctuation affects how anything is read and that in poetry it can affect the rhythm and flow of a poem. The teacher chooses a poem from the stack that has prominent punctuation, reads a stanza or two from the poem according to the punctuation marks, and asks if the students read the poem according to the way the author intended with the punctuation used as well as ask how did they know. In the Student Interactive, p. 539, students place punctuation to let readers know when to stop, pause, or slow down when reading the poem.

Differentiate between contexts that call for formal English (e.g., presenting ideas) and situations where informal discourse is appropriate (e.g., small-group discussion).

• In Unit 4, Week 6, Project-Based Inquiry, Celebrate and Reflect, Celebrate!, p. T384, students read aloud their blog post to another group sharing any media they have included. Students use the student model on p. 417 to model effectively sharing this project with others. When finished, the teacher points out the traits of effective speech with include looking at the audience and making eye contact, not rushing and enunciating clearly with a natural rate and volume, and listening to the audience’s comments and questions carefully before responding.  Students choose an appropriate mode of delivery for their work and are reminded to consider how formal or informal their language should be when they present their blog post to the class. Students listen to presentations. In the Student Interactive p. 424, students presenting jot down their classmates’ reactions.
• In Unit 3, Week 6, Project-Based Inquiry, Collaborate and Discuss,  p. T370, Revise and Edit, the teacher tells students that authors almost never publish a first draft, and authors make changes in grammar, spelling, word choice, and meaning.  The teacher explains that a letter to the principal should be written in formal language, so they should make sure their vocabulary is appropriate for the context and remind students that they are asking the principal to buy inclusive playground equipment, so their language must be persuasive. The teacher uses the bottom of Student Interactive p. 208 to model how writers can review their word choice and make necessary revisions and refer back to the original student model on p. 203 to show the changes in context. The teacher gives an example of informal English, that it is used when talking to a friend, and reasons why the writers of the model letter decided to use more formal English. Students read the second change on the bottom on p. 208. The teacher helps students recognize that the original text was written vaguely and using a more specific term indicates that the writers have done their research. Students describe other ways the changes have strengthened the letter.

The instructional materials reviewed for Grade 4 meet the criteria for materials, questions, and tasks address grade-level CCSS for foundational skills by providing explicit instruction and assessment in phonics and word recognition that demonstrate a research-based progression. 

Over the course of a year, students receive phonics and word instruction aligned to grade-level Common Core State Standards for foundational skills. Lessons within each theme include a five-day focus with systematic and explicit teacher instruction, as well as multiple assessment opportunities the teacher can employ. Students are engaged in a variety of activities that allow them to practice introduced phonics skills, including decoding and encoding words and sentences. Assessment types for phonics and word recognition include Baseline, Middle-of-Year, and End-of-Year Tests; Unit Tests; and Progress Check-Ups.

Examples of materials, questions, and tasks that address and provide progression of grade-level CCSS for foundational skills through explicit instruction and assessment in phonics and word recognition include but are not limited to the following:

Materials contain explicit instruction of irregularly spelled words, syllabication patterns, and word recognition consistently over the course of the year. For example:

• Use combined knowledge of all letter-sound correspondences, syllabication patterns, and morphology (e.g., roots and affixes) to read accurately unfamiliar multisyllabic words in context and out of context.
• In Unit 2, Week 5, Lesson 2, Reading Workshop, Shared Read, Platypus Poison, Possible Teaching Point, p. T-322, the students read the caption on a page in the reader looking for the word (with a Latin root), territory. The teacher models a think aloud explaining that when we know the root meaning of a word, it will help us read, spell, and understand the word.
• In Unit 4, Week 1, Lesson 1, Reading-Writing Workshop Bridge, Academic Vocabulary, Assess Understanding, p. T-65, the students complete a digital worksheet (Student Interactive, p. 245) where they read a word bank of words with Latin roots then write a different word with the same root next to the example. The words contain letter-sound correspondences and syllabication patterns already introduced. The students write a complete sentence using the new word they wrote.
• In Unit 5, Week 3, Reading-Writing Workshop Bridge, Word Study, Syllable Pattern VCCCV, p. 202, Lessons 1 and 2, the teacher explains strategies on how to divide up words with three consonants into syllables by using examples. Students decode words then check the dictionary for accuracy. In the Student Interactive, Lesson 2, p. 532, students break more words into syllables and check for accuracy in the dictionary.

Multiple assessment opportunities are provided over the course of the year to inform instructional adjustments of phonics and word recognition to help students make progress toward mastery. For example:

• In Middle-of-Year Test, pp. 48-50, Word Study, several questions prompt students to employ phonics and word recognition skills including plural forms of words, prefixes, suffixes, vowel/consonant sounds, multisyllables, word roots, and affixes.
• In Unit 3 Test, pp. 34-35, Word Study, several questions prompt students to employ phonics and word recognition skills including vowel sounds, multisyllables, and silent letters.
• In Unit 5 Test, pp. 72-74, Word Study, several questions prompt students to employ phonics and word recognition skills including vowel sounds, multisyllables, affixes, and word roots.
• In the End-of-Year Test, pp. 86-88, Word Study, several questions prompt students to employ phonics and word recognition skills including vowel sounds, plural forms of words, multisyllables, and root words.

Materials contain explicit instruction of word solving approaches (graphophonic and syntactic) to decode unfamiliar words. For example:

• In Unit 2, Week 5, Lesson 1, Page T-342, Reading-Writing Workshop Bridge, Word Study Latin Roots, the teacher explains that words with the same roots frequently share meaning. The teacher provides an example using the words tractor and attraction. The teacher then introduces the root word, terr and states the meaning. The teacher provides examples of words with the root terr. Students orally generate additional words containing the root, terr.
• In Unit 3, Week 5, Lesson 1, p. T-334, Reading-Writing Workshop Bridge, Word Study, Silent Letters, the teacher explains that some letters are silent and that many consist of common patterns. The teacher writes the example word on the board, wrestle. The teacher circles the silent letter w, and talks about how a dictionary can be utilized to determine the sound of letters in words. Students talk about how the w does not make a sound in the word. The teacher writes three more example words with silent letters. Student volunteers say the words. The teacher closes the lesson by pointing out the common orthographic pattern of wr at the beginning of words containing a silent w.
• In Unit 5, Week 1, Lesson 2, Reading Workshop, Shared Read, p. T40, Close Read Vocabulary in Context, teacher reminds students to look beyond the sentence for context clues and gives examples such as synonyms or restatements that the author uses. Students underline context clues in paragraph 14. The objective is to use context within and beyond a sentence to determine the relevant meaning of an unfamiliar word or multiple-meaning word.

The instructional materials reviewed for Grade 4 meet the criteria for materials, lessons, and questions providing instruction in and practice of word analysis skills in a research-based progression in connected text and tasks.

Phonics and word recognition skills are addressed during teacher Minilessons and are practiced multiple times over the course of the five units. Teacher modeling, guided practice, and questioning provide students with the opportunity to practice and master word recognition skills in connected text. Student activities include regular opportunities to practice oral reading with a focus on applying word recognition and analysis skills in leveled readers across diverse genres. Assessments to measure students’ word analysis skills are found throughout all five of the unit assessments with a section on word study. The Baseline, Middle-of-the-Year and End-of-the-Year Assessments include a phonics section. Weekly progress monitoring checks include questions to assess word analysis.

Examples of explicit instruction and student practice of word analysis skills in connected text and tasks include, but are not limited to:

Multiple and varied opportunities are provided over the course of the year in core materials for students to learn, practice, and apply word analysis skills in connected texts and tasks. For example: 

• In Unit 1, Week 1, Lesson 2, Reading Workshop, Word Study, Suffixes -ed, -ing, -s, -er, -est, the teacher uses the Related Words lesson to teach students to identify the suffix -ing. Students look through paragraph 29 and identify three words with -ing. Students discuss how the suffix changes the meaning of the base word.
• In Unit 2, Leveled Readers, Exploring Ecosystems, Word Study: Greek and Latin Roots, p. 4, the teacher explains the meaning of the two Greek roots of hydrothermal. Students combine the meanings of the two roots to generate the definition of the word. Students read the text looking for additional words with Greek or Latin roots.
• In Unit 4, Leveled Readers, Leaders of Change, Word Study: Suffix -tion, p. 4, the teacher reminds the students that applying knowledge of suffixes helps readers decode and understand the meaning of unknown words. The teacher explains the purpose of the suffix -tion and how it changes a verb into a noun. The students read the text and look for additional words that contain the suffix -tion. Students say the verb form of the word.
• In Unit 5, Week 3, Lessons 1 and 2, Reading-Writing Workshop Bridge, Word Study, Syllable Pattern VCCCV, p. 202, the teacher presents words to the students along with a guide for dividing the words into syllables. Students decode four words independently and check in the dictionary to confirm. In Student Interactive, p.532, students divide words into syllables.  

Materials include word analysis assessment to monitor student learning of word analysis skills. For example: 

• In Assessment & Practice, Unit Tests, Teacher Resources, Summative Assessments Teacher’s Manual with Student Reproducibles, p. T27, Item Analysis Chart for Grade 4, Unit 1, the chart indicates that questions 11 through 20 are focused on word study. The questions assess suffixes -ed, -ing, -s, -er, -est, -ity, -ty, -ic, -ment, syllable pattern VCe, vowel teams and digraphs, and prefixes mis-, en-, em-.
• In Middle-of-Year Test, p. 48, Word Study questions are included on this test to assess student phonics skills including identifying vowel sounds, digraphs, silent k, final stable syllables, affixes, the VCe pattern, and syllable division.
• In Grade 4, Progress Check-Ups are available to track student progress and for each unit and each week there are with five questions focused on Word Study with student progress checks on prefixes, suffixes, r-controlled vowels, vowel team and digraphs, syllable pattern, Latin roots, and silent letters to mention a few.
• In Unit 1, Week 4, Progress Check-Ups, Word Study, p. 14, Questions 6 through 9 assess identifying words with the same vowel variant sound as a given word. Question 10 asks students to identify a word that has two vowels that make one vowel sound (vowel digraph)
• In Unit 3, Week 3, the Progress Check-Ups assesses students on final stable syllable -le, -tion, -sion. The material provides a simple chart to monitor student progress for the entire year on the Progress Check-Ups.
• In Unit 4 Unit Test, pp. 62-63, questions assess student phonics skills including syllable division, affixes, and orthographic spelling.

The instructional materials reviewed for Grade 4 meet the criteria for instructional opportunities are frequently built into the materials for students to practice and achieve reading fluency in oral and silent reading, that is, to read on-level prose and poetry with accuracy, rate appropriate to the text, and expression.

Over the course of the school year, students are provided weekly opportunities to practice oral reading fluency and silent reading with a focus on developing grade-level reading rate, accuracy, and expression. Students practice oral reading with the teacher as the model during whole group instruction, with student partners, and in small group instruction. In Reading Workshop instruction, within Shared Readings, students read orally in pairs, as a class, and independently with multiple opportunities to reread the same text in First Read and Close Read lessons. Each unit contains 75 informal assessments for measuring individual student skill in oral reading fluency. From the results, three levels of proficiency can be assigned. The teacher is provided guidance about how to utilize the fluency test results.

Examples of of opportunities for students to practice and achieve reading fluency in oral and silent reading, through on-level prose and poetry with accuracy, rate appropriate to the text, and expression, include, but are not limited to:

Multiple opportunities are provided over the course of the year in core materials for students to demonstrate sufficient accuracy and fluency in oral and silent reading. Students have opportunities to read grade-level text with purpose and understanding. For example:

• In Unit 1, Week 2, Lesson 2, Reading Workshop, p. T106, after reviewing vocabulary and discussing First Read Strategies, students may read the text, Rare Treasure, independently, in pairs, or as a class.
• In Unit 2, Week 4, Lesson 1, Reading Workshop, p. T234, the teacher explains the elements of poetry rhyme, rhythm, and figurative language, along with the pattern of words to share feeling or ideas. The teacher explains that people read poetry to enjoy the language. Students read Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow.
• In Unit 3, Leveled Readers, Moves and Grooves, students silently read the story and write notes on a graphic organizer as the teacher checks individual students for comprehension understanding. For this lesson, students listen to the teacher orally read part of the text inaccurately. The students raise their hands when they hear an error in the teacher's reading.
• In Unit 5, Leveled Readers, Challenge in the Rain Field, students silently read the story and write notes on a graphic organizer as the teacher checks individual students for comprehension understanding.

Materials support reading or prose and poetry with attention to rate, accuracy, and expression, as well as direction for students to apply reading skills when productive struggle is necessary. Students have opportunities to read grade-level prose and poetry orally with accuracy, appropriate rate, and expression on successive readings. For example:

• In Unit 1, Leveled Readers, Maui Snares the Sun, p. 4, the teacher models oral reading with prosody by reading a page in the text. The teacher reminds the students to match their oral reading to the punctuation in the passage. Students read pages in the text with a focus on appropriate oral reading of questions.
• In Unit 2, Week 4, Lesson 1, Reading Workshop, p. T232, Listening Comprehension Poetry, Fluency, after completing the read-aloud routine, the teacher displays a poem. The teacher models reading aloud a short section of the poem, asking students to pay attention to accuracy. The teacher explains that fluency is about reading without making mistakes. Partners practice reading with accuracy using their favorite lines of the poem.
• In Unit 4, Week 1, Lesson 2, Reading Workshop, p. T50, Fluency, students choose a short passage from the text or a leveled reader.  Student pairs take turns reading the passage aloud, making sure they say each sentence with expression. If students sound flat, the teacher tells them to look for interjections, punctuation, and other signs that more expression is needed. If the student is using too much expression, the teacher should remind them that their reading should sound the same as if they were talking naturally.
• In Unit 5, Leveled Readers, Digging for Dinosaurs, p. 4, the teacher reminds the students why it is important to read at an appropriate rate. The students read, then reread a page in the text with a focus on appropriate rate of oral reading.

Materials support students’ fluency development of reading skills (e.g., self-correction of word recognition and/or for understanding, focus on rereading) over the course of the year (to get to the end of the grade-level band). Students have opportunities to use context to confirm or self-correct word recognition and understanding, rereading as necessary. For example:

• In Unit 1, Week 4, Lesson 2, p. T243, Reading Workshop, Fluency, students take turns reading two paragraphs in a non-fiction passage focusing on oral reading with appropriate rate and employing word decoding techniques for unknown words.
• In Unit 2, Week 1, Lesson 2, p. T53, Reading Workshop: Small Group, Conferring, Possible Teaching Point, students slow down and look to context clues to help them decode unknown words in a passage.
• In Unit 2, Week 1, Lesson 2, p. T-53, Reading Workshop: Small Group, Conferring, Literacy Activities, students take turns reading and rereading a passage in connected text with a focus on oral reading fluency.
• In Unit 5, Week 1, Lesson 2, Reading Workshop, Close Read, Vocabulary in Context, p. T40, the teacher reminds students to look beyond the sentence for context clues and discusses examples such as synonyms or restatements. Students underline context clues.

Assessment materials provide teachers and students with information of students’ current fluency skills and provide teachers with instructional adjustments to help students make progress toward mastery of fluency. For example: 

• In Cold Reads for Fluency and Comprehension: Teacher's Manual with Student Reproducibles, Grade 4, Overview/How to Use the Tests, pp. T5-T6, the teacher is provided with information outlining how there are three "cold reads" measures for each of the 25 weeks in the program. Three levels of proficiency can be assigned. The teacher is provided guidance about how to utilize the fluency test results. For example, teachers can use the results to discern if individual students need re-teaching or more advanced lesson activities.
• In Assessments & Practice, Summative Assessments Teacher’s Manual with Student Reproducibles, Grade 4, p. T8,  information for interpreting fluency test results including a chart with published norms for oral reading fluency is provided. Directions are given for the teacher to examine notes on student’s miscues to determine the reason rates are low. This could indicate further phonics instruction, comprehension strategies, or increased vocabulary exposure. It could indicate a lack of exposure to models of fluent oral reading. An optional Baseline Fluency assessment is located on p. T13.
• In Unit 1, Week 4, Lesson 2, Reading Workshop, Assess & Differentiate, Teacher-Led Options, p. 246 the teacher assesses two to four students at a time with a short passage or leveled reader. The pairs of students will take turns reading aloud with appropriate rate. The teacher will provide feedback to the student while reading on rate being too fast or slow as well as model reading if needed as this is a Quick Check for fluency.