Reading Journals

Fourth graders read theme-based literature books throughout the school year. The teacher helps children to select books that are appropriate for each theme. Children read these books independently in school and at home.

Once a week on the same day, each child is asked to write a letter in their reading journal about the book they are reading. Directions for writing the letter are pasted in each child's reading journal. These journals are graded on a 1, 2, 3, 4 scale, based on reading comprehension, critical reading and inference.

The teacher always answers the letter, and asks the child questions related to the reading. The child answers these questions in the first paragraph of the next letter they write. There is also a list of sentence starters in the back of the journal to help the children write their third paragraph.

HERE IS A SUMMARY OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE LETTER:

Paragraph 1: Name of book and page number and your answers to the teacher's questions

Paragraph 2:  A short summary of what you have read in the book since the last time you wrote

Paragraph 3:  Your thinking and ideas about what you have read - Use the sentence starters in the back of the journal to help you.

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