Reading with Mrs. Spina
This is our reading schedule for the 1997 - 1998 school year. We read some really terrific books! As we complete each reading unit, several students will share their impressions of the books they read. Stay tuned!
SEPTEMBER
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
This story is about a kid named Peter and his brother, Fudge. Fudge does a lot of odd things. Read this book and find out what Fudge does that you would not do in a million years!
Review by Jeff P.
OCTOBER
Realistic Fiction Unit, including:
Pinballs by Betsy Byars
Baseball Fever by Johanna Hurwitz
Blackberries in the Dark by Mavis Jukes
In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Bao Lord
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
"Folktales Around the World" Unit
For our next reading unit, we read examples of folktales from around the world. There are over 70 books in our collection, so they're far too numerous to list here. Some of the children's favorites are:
Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters by Jon Steptoe
Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears by Verna Aardema
Greyling by Jane Yolen
JANUARY
Biography unit, including:
The Story of Walt Disney: Maker of Magical Worlds by Bernice Selden
The Story of Thomas Alva Edison, Inventor by Margaret Davidson
Jim Henson: Creator of the Muppets by Stephanie St. Pierre
Harry Houdini: Master of Magic by Robert Kraske
The Story of Paul Revere: Messenger of Liberty by Joyce Milton
Eleanor Roosevelt: First Lady of the World by Doris Faber
The Story of Sacajawea: Guide to Lewis and Clark by Della Rowland
The Secret Soldier: The Story of Deborah Sampson by Ann McGovern
FEBRUARY
Mystery unit, including:
Who Stole "The Wizard of Oz"? by Avi
A Haunting in Williamsburg by Lou Kassem
The Dollhouse Murders by Betty Ren Wright
A Ghost Comes Calling by Betty Ren Wright
MARCH and APRIL
The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
This book is read as an integrated unit. While reading The Sign of the Beaver we learn about Native Americans, colonial times, and wildlife such as bears and bees. We do many interesting and fun writing and art activites. The best part is the "Bear Feast" we have when we finish the book!
MAY
Flight Unit, including:
Courage in the Sky by Mona Kerby
Lost Star by Patricia Lauber
The Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk by Donald J. Sobol
Our flight unit is also integrated across the curriculum. We study the invention of the airplane and early pioneers in flight. We explore the science of flight and the four forces that help airplanes fly: lift, drag, thrust, and gravity. Hands-on activities help us understand how planes fly. We also work in groups to write and illustrate our own books about flight.
Below are interesting websites that we use in our study of flight:
World Flight '97 ... Linda Finch's recreation and completion of Amelia Earhart's famous flight
World Flight...More information about World Flight '97
Leonardo da Vinci...Renaissance Man
JUNE
Realistic Fiction Unit
Glass Slippers Give You Blisters by Mary Jane Auch
Left-handed Shortstop by Patricia Reilly Giff
Yellow Blue Jay by Johanna Hurwitz
Keep Ms. Sugarman in the Fourth Grade by Elizabeth Levy
There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom by Louis Sachar
The War with Grandpa by Robert Kimmel Smith
