GENRE OF THE MONTH: After looking at the standards for all grade levels,
Vaughan's teachers have noticed that all grades are to be reading from all
genres throughout the school year. So, we thought what better way to do
this than to highlight a genre, school wide, each month. There are many
ways in which you can participate in this iniciative. You can select read
aloud books from the genre to read with your children at home, you can sign
up to be a mystery reader and read books within the genre when you come to
share with our class, or even research the different types of genres at home
with your son/daughter and discuss the elements of each and how they are
similar/different. By the end of the school year, our entire student
population will be familiar with the genres, both fiction and non-fiction,
and will be introduced to many wonderful books, plays, poems, folktales,
etc. in the process. Be sure to check out the PTSA bulletin boards that
will be provided that will highlight all the genres.

SCHOOL WIDE READING: From 2:00-2:10 each day, teachers will have reading
time in their classrooms to share a chapter book from the genre of the
month. What a great way to end the day!

THE TWENTY-FIVE BOOKS CAMPAIGN: After looking at the curriculum for the
grade levels, we noticed that there was a mandate to encourage the students
in 4th and 5th grades to read 25 books during the school year. We thought
that this was definitely a challenging mandate, but the more we thought
about it, the more we thought that it could be a challenge that our kids
were up to, and not just 4th and 5th graders. We plan to encourage everyone
to read the 25 books! Be listening out for "The Twenty-Five Books Campaign"
kick-off assembly's date and time coming up in September!

Vaughan's Fifth Grade Literacy Program
More details to come....








Vaughan's Fourth Grade Literacy Program

Books are a Blast!

To further enhance childrens love of reading and to increase student learning, the PTSA and Vaughan
staff launched a literacy campaign at the start of the school year. As a part of the Literacy
Program, every student is encouraged to read twenty-five (25) books per year. To meet that goal, a
quarterly (9 week) schedule is outlined below. This goal allows for the student to gradually
develop both the habit of reading and the amount of time spent reading, hopefully preparing them for
the reading goals set forth in the fifth (5th) grade. For the fourth (4th) grade, a book is equal
to 75 pages. Additionally, as part of the school-wide genre study, the student is required to have
read books from at least three (3) different genres and five (5) different authors by the end of the
year.

Upon completion of a book, the student is to complete a response to the literature or an AR test to
verify completion of the book, and then log the books title, author, genre, number of pages,
response type and date completed in a book log. This applies to books both over and under 75 pages
in length.

The pages will accumulate, and the student will receive credit for one (1) book for every 75 pages.
Pages read under/over the 75 will be forwarded to the next goal. Ex: A student reads three (3) 30
page books, completes a response for each book, and logs the books. The student has now logged 90
pages and receives credit for one (1) book, and the leftover 15 pages are carried forward toward the
next 75 pages read. Conversely, if a student reads a 200 page book, completes a response and logs
the book, the student will receive credit for two (2) books read and the leftover 50 pages carry
forward.


The reading activity will be tracked and the PTSA will award students meeting the goal for each 9
weeks as follows:

Fourth grade reading goals:

1st 9 weeks 4 books/book equivalency (B.E.)=300 pages
2nd 9 weeks 5 books/B.E.=375 pages
3rd 9 weeks 7 books/B.E.=525 pages
4th 9 weeks 9 books/B.E.=675 pages
Total 25 books/B.E.=1875 pages

When a student reaches the first 4 books/300 pages, they will have a rocket with their name on it
placed near the Literacy bulletin board in the fourth grade hall. This will be lift off. At 9
books/675 pages (i.e. cumulative completion of the 1st & 2nd 9 weeks goal), the students rocket
will achieve orbit. When 16 books/1200 pages are read (cumulative 1st, 2nd & 3rd 9 weeks goal),
the students rocket will land on the moon. Upon completion of the 25 books/1875 pages (years
goal), the students rocket will be placed among the stars. Students reaching the 25 book goal
will be awarded in a special way at the end of the year.