Unit One Language Arts
Dear Families,
We are excited to begin our first literacy module of the school year! Over the next few weeks, we will be diving into Unit 1: What Is a Character?
In this module, students will explore different characters and learn how authors help readers understand who characters really are. We will read stories, poems, and other texts while learning how to look closely at what characters say, think, feel, and do. Our goal is to help students become thoughtful readers who can explain what they think and how they know it.
🌟 Our Essential Question
What makes a character interesting and memorable?
We will return to this question throughout the module as we meet different characters and learn about their experiences.
🦸 What Will We Be Working On?
Understanding Characters: Students will learn how to:
- Describe a character's traits and personality.
- Explain what a character thinks, feels, says, and does.
- Use a character's actions and choices to understand them.
- Explain how a character responds to problems and challenges.
- Notice how a character changes or grows throughout a story.
Reading Like a Detective: Good readers don't just read the words on the page—they look for clues!
Students will practice:
- Making inferences by using clues from the text and what they already know.
- Asking and answering questions about what they read.
- Finding important details that help them understand a story.
- Using evidence from the text to explain their thinking.
📝 Writing About Reading
Students will also begin practicing how to write about what they read. They will work on:
- Answering questions in complete sentences.
- Describing characters using specific details.
- Explaining their ideas clearly.
- Using evidence from the story to support their answers.
- Organizing their thoughts into a clear response.
🗣️ Vocabulary & Word Work
As we read, students will encounter new and interesting words. We will practice:
- Figuring out what unfamiliar words mean.
- Using context clues to understand words.
- Using new vocabulary when speaking and writing.
- Paying attention to how an author's word choices help us understand a story.
🏠 How Can You Help at Home?
You can easily support these skills during your child's regular reading time!
Try asking:
“What is your character like?”
“How do you know?”
“What did the character do? Why?”
“How do you think the character feels?”
“What clues in the story helped you figure that out?”
“Did the character change? How?”
“Would you have made the same choice? Why or why not?”
“How do you know?”
“What did the character do? Why?”
“How do you think the character feels?”
“What clues in the story helped you figure that out?”
“Did the character change? How?”
“Would you have made the same choice? Why or why not?”
Even a few minutes of talking about a book can help your child practice these important reading skills!
❤️ Our Goal
By the end of this module, we want students to understand that characters are more than what they look like. Readers can learn about characters by paying attention to their words, thoughts, feelings, actions, choices, and relationships.
We are so excited to begin our reading adventure together! 📚✨