Communication Arts
Assessment/Implementation Statement
Grade Four
IMPLEMENTATION
Every
student must read and write everyday!!!
Basic materials: The Board of Trustees adopted the Harcourt Trophies materials for the purpose of implementing the Communication Arts curriculum. This program is designed to be taught sequentially and generally takes 6 weeks per unit. The Daily Oral Language program, the D'Nealian penmanship program, and the Keyboarding Program review will continue to be used in conjunction with the Harcourt materials. The Harcourt Intervention Program will be used in the Literacy Program. The use of these materials across the District will assure that students receive a well-balanced and consistent Communication Arts program, which is critical to the overall success of our students.
The assessment guidelines that follow indicate which Harcourt themes need to be covered to assure a complete program. Daily Oral Language and D'Nealian penmanship programs will be used as designed.
Supplemental materials: Teachers, principals and building staffs are encouraged to make necessary professional judgments as to the supplemental materials and instructional strategies that best meet the needs of the students in their classrooms/schools as well as their individual teaching styles. To this end, Great Falls Public Schools has provided a number of training opportunities and/or materials. These include: computer software, strategies for literature, writing, Successmaker, and skill instruction as well as other communication arts topics. It is important to note these additional materials are not to replace the Harcourt materials but to support them.
ASSESSMENT
The assessment components for fourth grade include the use of MAP Assessment, Harcourt oral fluency, spelling review tests, holistic theme based tests and skills based End-of-Year test. These assessments are aligned with state standards and the benchmarks found in the Great Falls Public Schools Curriculum.
Students will complete one piece of writing per quarter that will be rated using the District Intermediate Writing Rubric (see attached on previous page.) The fourth quarter assessment will be replaced by the District Writing Assessment administered each year in the spring. The goal is for students to perform at the proficient level when rated using the District Intermediate Writing Rubric.
TE 5 Lead the Way; Community Ties
TE 6 Lead the Way; New Lands
TE1 Distant Voyages; Look Inside
*"Hot and Cold Summer" is to be replaced with "Less Than Half More Than Whole" in order to support Indian Education for All. These books can be checked out from the District Curriculum Library.
TE 2 Distant Voyages; Team Work
*Supplemental materials may change as curriculum committee completes its work.