Grade 4: Golden Sticky Notes, Growing Readers

To prepare for meaningful conversations, students annotate their texts and come ready with observations captured on a “golden sticky note”—a moment from their reading they believe is especially important or worthy of discussion. These routines help students slow down their reading, notice important moments in the text, and think about why those moments matter for the characters or the story.

Fourth-grade reading journals play a central role in helping students process their thinking. Journals allow them to capture reflections, predictions, questions, connections, and significant quotes as they read. To understand what strong journal writing looks like, fourth graders examined four sample entries and ranked them from weakest to strongest. They discovered that high-quality journals include clear ideas, precise text evidence, and thoughtful explanations about what the author might be trying to show. After practicing together, students wrote independent entries using these strategies to strengthen their work.

A key part of the Book Clubs is learning how to engage in meaningful conversations about literature. During fishbowl discussions, a small group demonstrates effective dialogue while their classmates watch for the strategies that make the conversation successful. After reflecting together, students bring those approaches into their own groups. This work helps students learn how to listen with intention, contribute thoughtfully, support or refine their ideas, and participate in a collaborative, productive conversation.

Through intentional reading habits, reading journals, and thoughtful conversation structures, fourth graders are developing the skills of engaged readers, learning not just to follow a story but to analyze, interpret, and share their ideas with clarity and confidence.