📖 Literacy: HMH Into Reading — Module 1

“What Makes Us Who We Are?”

In Literacy, we are beginning HMH Into Reading Grade 4, Module 1: “What Makes Us Who We Are?”

The big question guiding our learning is:

How do our experiences help shape our identity?

Throughout the module, students will read and discuss a variety of texts that explore identity, experiences, relationships, interests, culture, and the things that make each of us unique.

📚 Reading Skills

Students will practice:

• Finding the main idea and supporting details
• Asking and answering questions about a text
• Using text evidence to support their thinking
• Identifying important details and information
• Thinking about how characters change and respond to experiences
• Understanding an author's purpose and point of view
• Making connections between what they read and their own experiences
• Discussing ideas respectfully with classmates

We will also continue building vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, and other foundational reading skills throughout the module.

✍️ Writing: Personal Narratives

Along with our reading work, students will begin writing their own personal narrative.

A personal narrative is a true story about something that happened to the writer. Students will learn how writers take an important experience and turn it into a story with details, feelings, and meaning.

We will work through the writing process:

Brainstorm → Plan → Draft → Revise → Edit → Publish

Students will think about experiences that have helped shape who they are. They will learn how to:

• Choose a meaningful personal experience
• Organize events in a logical order
• Include specific details
• Describe thoughts and feelings
• Use dialogue when appropriate
• Write an engaging beginning
• Develop a clear middle
• Create a satisfying ending
• Revise their writing to make it stronger

🏠 How can families help?

One of the easiest ways to support your child's writing is simply to talk about stories and experiences together.

Try asking:

• “What is a memory you will never forget?”
• “What is something that changed the way you think?”
• “Tell me about a time you were really proud of yourself.”
• “What is a challenge you overcame?”
• “Who has had an important impact on your life?”
• “What experience helped make you the person you are today?”

Your child does not need to write the story immediately. Talking through the story first is an important part of the writing process!