In 4th grade, children apply their skills to read and understand challenging fiction and non-fiction text. Fourth-graders read, discuss, and write about, complicated stories, rich poems, plays, informational books, and articles. In 4th grade, your child will show an understanding of literature and topics being studied in science and social studies by writing summaries, essays, and research papers. Students will learn to orally report on a topic, tell a story, or recount an experience clearly, and experiment with adding audio and visual elements to a presentation to help express ideas.
Increase vocabulary by building an understanding of relationships between words.
Understand idioms (an idiom is an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of individual words but that has a separate meaning of its own like : “Hold your horses!”
Understand and use synonyms (words with similar meanings like promise /pledge) to convey ideas precisely.
Understand and use antonyms (words with opposite meanings like failure / success) to convey ideas precisely.
Use strategies (like context cues and knowledge of prefixes/suffixes and root words) to understand new words and phrases.
Determine the main idea and key details of both literary and informational text; summarize a text.
Explain how an author uses evidence and reasons to support particular points in a text.
Compare how similar themes and topics are expressed in stories, myths and folktales from different cultures.
How you can help your child develop reading and writing skills outside of the classroom.
Read and actively engage with a variety of rich and challenging texts to build a foundation of knowledge in literature, science, social studies and other subjects.
Tip: Discuss What Your Child is Reading
Ask your child about the books he is reading, both in school and for fun. Try to ask probing questions that go beyond having him just relate the action in a book. Ask about the themes of what he is reading and encourage him to summarize what he is reading and discuss it with you.
Tip: Set an Example for Good Reading Behavior
Continue to model good reading behavior by discussing what you are reading. If you’ve just read an interesting magazine article, tell your child what you learned from it.
Use basic rules of English grammar, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
Recognize fragmented and run-on sentences.
Use can, may, and must correctly
Correctly use and spell homophones (to, too, two).
Use dictionaries to check and correct spelling.
Write a story with an event sequence that unfolds naturally, use dialogue, description and sensory details, provide a satisfying conclusion.
Write an informational piece that introduces a topic, groups related information in paragraphs and sections, develops the topic with facts and details and provides a logical conclusion.
Write an opinion piece that introduces a topic or text, states an opinion, is clearly organized, and supports the opinion with reasons, facts and details.
Include evidence from text to support thinking and research.
Produce and share writing using technology with guidance and support from adults.
Type at least one page of writing in a single sitting.
Report orally on a topic to show understanding, using well chosen and well organized facts and details.
Participate in conversations about topics and texts being studied, listening carefully to the ideas of others and asking and answering questions in order to gather more information or deepen understanding of the topic.
Paraphrase information from media presentations or books read aloud.
Independently conduct short research projects to investigate and become knowledgeable about a topic.
Take notes, sort information into categories, and provide a list of sources.
