Reading and Writing Instruction for Fourth- and Fifth-Grade Classrooms in a PLC at Work®

Prepare students to succeed with increasingly sophisticated reading and writing challenges. Designed for teachers of grades 4-5, this resource helps readers address the pivotal shift in learning expectations that occurs during the upper elementary years. Myriad templates, tools, and strategies are included to support collaborative teams as they work to establish a rich and robust plan for quality literacy instruction, assessment, and intervention. Use this resource to inspire fourth- and fifth-graders to excel in reading and writing:Understand the role PLCs and collaborative teams play in literacy development and reading comprehension strategies.Obtain strategies and tools, such as the pre-unit protocol, for unpacking and clarifying literacy standards.Explore adaptable, research-based instructional strategies, and learn how to plan high-quality literacy instruction that boosts student reading and writing skills.Examine the four components of the gradual release model--(1) focused instruction, (2) guided instruction, (3) collaborative learning, and (4) independent learning.Observe how to collaboratively score assessments and conduct effective data inquiry and analysis.Study the powerful impact literacy has on student engagement and inclusivity.Contents:Introduction: Every Teacher Is a Literacy Teacher Chapter 1: Establish Clarity About Student Learning ExpectationsChapter 2: Examine Assessment Options for LiteracyChapter 3: Create a Learning Progression to Guide Instruction and AssessmentChapter 4: Develop Collective Understanding of Learning ExpectationsChapter 5: Respond to Data to Ensure All Students LearnChapter 6: Differentiate Instruction With Gradual Release of ResponsibilityChapter 7: Plan High-Quality Literacy InstructionChapter 8: Select Appropriate Instructional StrategiesChapter 9: Consider Equity in LiteracyEpilogueAppendix A: List of Figures and TablesAppendix B: Templates and ToolsAppendix C: Process for Prioritizing StandardsAppendix D: Depth of Knowledge OverviewAppendix E: Essential Understandings and Guiding QuestionsReferences and ResourcesIndex