Teaching fourth graders presents many challenges, but the one I have found year after year to be the most like pulling teeth is getting the students to write complete sentences with specific details to support their answers.
In fact, when I explain the challenge to most people, I usually compare it to this:
If you've ever taught in a classroom (of any age), you undoubtedly know what I'm talking about.
Why is explaining ideas and other things on paper so darn hard? Is it really that much extra effort? Well, for some reason, my fourth graders think so.
So, until the students can expand those sentences on their own, I'll be the one right there saying, "And...?" And then, just maybe, I'll get answers with at least some substance...
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