Fourth Grade Readers Explore Character and Identity

Fourth grade students selected one of three books presented to be their book group choice. Yang the Youngest and His Terrible Ear by Lensey Namioka, Any Small Goodness by Tony Johnston and How Tia Lola Came to Visit/Stay by Julia Alvarez were the books chosen for the combination of descriptive writing and characters that bring their own culture to the story and explore their identity during the course of the book. Students engaged in the process of reading, reflecting, writing and sharing in small groups about their own connections, experiences and deep thinking about the issues in the book.  During the course of conversation, students utilize various techniques to explore issues that emerge in conversation. One example of this occurred during a discussion about the difference between values and stereotypes in the book Yang the Youngest and His Terrible Ear, students charted this their ideas on the white board and then used this brainstorming to go deeper into their conversation.

Reading, reflecting, writing and sharing ideas enable students to think deeper about their reading, their own lives and the lives of others in their community.