Dr. Michael Kester-Haynes

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Grade 5 ELA Units

Unit Plan 6 (Grade 5 ELA): Advanced Nonfiction Text Features & Structures

Grade 5 ELA unit: read nonfiction with headings, captions, diagrams, and maps; compare text structures (sequence, compare–contrast, cause–effect); cite evidence.

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Grade 5 ELA Units

Unit Plan 5 (Grade 5 ELA): Point of View & Narrator’s Perspective

Grade 5 ELA unit: explore narration and perspective by comparing points of view, analyzing voice, and rewriting scenes with transitions and clear dialogue.

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Grade 5 ELA Units

Unit Plan 4 (Grade 5 ELA): Small-Moment Narrative Writing

Grade 5 narrative writing unit: craft small-moment stories with strong leads, clear event sequence, dialogue and pacing, vivid details, and a purposeful closure.

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Grade 5 ELA Units

Unit Plan 3 (Grade 5 ELA): Characters, Settings, and Plot

Grade 5 ELA unit: describe and compare characters, settings, and events while analyzing word choice, figurative language, and tone through evidence-based writing.

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Grade 5 ELA Units

Unit Plan 2 (Grade 5 ELA): Reading with Evidence & Theme

Grade 5 ELA unit: teach students to ask and answer text-based questions, cite evidence, infer themes, and write objective summaries with fluency practice.

Grade 5 ELA Units

Unit Plan 1 (Grade 5 ELA): Launching Our Reading–Writing Community

Grade 5 ELA launch week: build reading routines and stamina, close reading norms, accountable talk, and writer’s workshop—ending with a clear on-demand paragraph.

Grade 4 ELA Units

Unit Plan 36 (Grade 4 ELA): Publishing Celebration & Reflection

Celebrate 4th graders’ writing growth with polished portfolios, author talks, and language-for-effect revisions for powerful writing and presentations.

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Grade 4 ELA Units

Unit Plan 35 (Grade 4 ELA): Author Study – Style and Craft

Grade 4 ELA unit: compare works by the same author to analyze theme, tone, and craft. Students write a style imitation and perform an oral reading.

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Grade 4 ELA Units

Unit Plan 34 (Grade 4 ELA): Revising & Editing for Clarity

Teach 4th graders to revise and edit writing for grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling using ARMS/CUPS for polished, clear sentences.

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Grade 4 ELA Units

Unit Plan 33 (Grade 4 ELA): Summarizing & Synthesizing Information

Grade 4 unit on main idea, key details, concise summaries, and cross-text synthesis using evidence lines/source tags; includes lessons, organizers, and assessments.

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Grade 4 ELA Units

Unit Plan 32 (Grade 4 ELA): Writing Informational Reports with Visuals

Help 4th graders write multi-paragraph informational reports with visuals and captions that teach, clear sections, linkers, and domain vocabulary.

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Grade 4 ELA Units

Unit Plan 31 (Grade 4 ELA): Extended Research Project

Guide 4th graders in planning inquiry projects, gathering sources, taking notes, paraphrasing, and using technology to publish organized research.

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Grade 4 ELA Units

Unit Plan 30 (Grade 4 ELA): Reading History/Science Texts with Visuals

Teach 4th graders to interpret charts, diagrams, and maps, connect visuals to text, and master domain vocabulary for strong informational reading.

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Grade 4 ELA Units

Unit Plan 29 (Grade 4 ELA): Procedural/How-To Writing

Teach 4th graders to write clear, step-by-step how-to texts using transitions, precise language, and relative clauses for strong procedural writing.

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Grade 4 ELA Units

Unit Plan 28 (Grade 4 ELA): Cause & Effect and Explaining Connections

Grade 4 informational unit: analyze cause/effect and idea relationships, identify reasons/evidence, and critique a speaker’s arguments with clear explanations.

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Grade 4 ELA Units

Unit Plan 27 (Grade 4 ELA): Synthesizing Across Sources

Grade 4 synthesis unit: combine ideas from multiple sources, paraphrase accurately, cite evidence, and write concise, well-organized, evidence-based responses.

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Grade 4 ELA Units

Unit Plan 26 (Grade 4 ELA): Firsthand vs. Secondhand Accounts

Grade 4 informational comparison unit: distinguish firsthand vs. secondhand accounts, compare focus and information, and write evidence-based analytical paragraphs.

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Grade 4 ELA Units

Unit Plan 25 (Grade 4 ELA): Reading Biographies & Timelines

Grade 4 biography unit: build timelines, explain cause/effect, identify main idea, analyze visuals, and write concise, objective summaries with key details.

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Grade 4 ELA Units

Unit Plan 24 (Grade 4 ELA): Narrative Pacing, Transitions, and Closure

Grade 4 narrative sequencing unit: organize events with transitions, control pacing through zoomed scenes, use vivid sensory details, and craft reflective endings.

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Grade 4 ELA Units

Unit Plan 23 (Grade 4 ELA): Writing Dialogue & Building Scenes

Grade 4 narrative dialogue unit: write punctuated conversations with action and thought beats, use modal verbs for nuance, and craft scenes with smooth sequence and closure.

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Grade 4 ELA Units

Unit Plan 22 (Grade 4 ELA): Poetry, Drama, and Prose Structures

Grade 4 structure & presentation unit: identify poetry, drama, and prose elements; explain how structure shapes meaning; and connect text to visuals or performances.

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Grade 4 ELA Units

Unit Plan 21 (Grade 4 ELA): Tone, Connotation, and Precise Language

Grade 4 tone & word meaning unit: analyze connotation, idioms, and proverbs; identify tone through context; and revise writing with precise, mood-matching language.

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Grade 4 ELA Units

Unit Plan 20 (Grade 4 ELA): Comparing Stories by the Same Author

Grade 4 literature comparison unit: analyze two stories by the same author for patterns in theme, setting, and plot, and write linked, evidence-based comparisons.

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Grade 4 ELA Units

Unit Plan 19 (Grade 4 ELA): Finding Themes

Grade 4 literature unit: identify story themes with evidence, track character lessons, and write concise summaries that connect key events to the theme.

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Grade 4 ELA Units

Unit Plan 18 (Grade 4 ELA): Sharing Findings Clearly

Grade 4 presentation unit: plan and deliver short talks with slides or posters using precise language, clear visuals, and confident pacing for audience impact.