Grade 4 · English Language Arts
4.10A
Author’s purpose/message
Explain the author’s purpose and message.
4.10B
Text structure & purpose
Explain how text structure contributes to purpose.
4.10C
Print/graphic features
Analyze author’s use of print/graphic features for specific purposes.
4.10D
Language & imagery
Describe how imagery, figurative language (simile, metaphor) and sound devices (alliteration, assonance) achieve purposes.
4.10E
Point of view
Identify and understand first‑ or third‑person point of view.
4.10F
Voice
Discuss how the author’s language contributes to voice.
4.10G
Anecdote
Identify and explain the use of anecdote.
4.11A
Plan drafts
Plan a first draft by selecting a genre and using strategies (brainstorming, freewriting, mapping).
4.11B
Develop drafts
Organize with purposeful structure (intro, transitions, conclusion) and develop ideas with relevant details.
4.11C
Revise
Revise drafts to improve sentence structure and word choice by adding, deleting, combining, and rearranging ideas.
4.11D
Edit conventions
Edit for conventions (sentences; verbs; nouns; adjectives/adverbs; prepositions; pronouns; coordinating conjunctions; capitalization; punctuation; correct spelling).
4.11E
Publish
Publish written work for appropriate audiences.
4.12A
Compose literary texts
Personal narratives and poetry using genre characteristics and craft.
4.12B
Compose informational texts
Brief compositions conveying information with a clear central idea using genre characteristics and craft.
4.12C
Compose argumentative texts
Opinion essays using genre characteristics and craft.
4.12D
Compose correspondence
Correspondence that requests information.
4.13A
Generate questions
Generate and clarify questions on a topic for inquiry.
4.13B
Research plan
Develop and follow a research plan with adult assistance.
4.13C
Gather information
Identify and gather relevant information from a variety of sources.
4.13D
Primary vs. secondary
Identify primary and secondary sources.
4.13E
Show understanding
Demonstrate understanding of information gathered.
4.13F
Paraphrase vs. plagiarism
Recognize the difference between paraphrasing and plagiarism.
4.13G
Bibliography
Develop a bibliography.
4.13H
Present results
Use an appropriate mode of delivery (written, oral, multimodal) to present results.
4.1A
Active listening & discussion
Listen actively, ask relevant questions, and make pertinent comments.
4.1B
Follow & give instructions
Follow, restate, and give oral instructions involving a series of related actions.
4.1C
Express opinions clearly
Express an opinion with eye contact, speaking rate, volume, enunciation, and conventions.
4.1D
Collaborative work
Work collaboratively with others to develop a plan of shared responsibilities.
4.2A
Phonics/Decoding
Decode using orthographic patterns; multisyllabic syllable types (closed, open, VCe, vowel teams, r-controlled, final stable); syllable division (e.g., VV); prefixes/suffixes; high‑frequency words.
4.2B
Spelling knowledge
Spell multisyllabic words with common syllable types; homophones; multiple sound-spelling patterns; use syllable division, prefixes, and suffixes.
4.2C
Cursive writing
Write legibly in cursive to complete assignments.
4.3A
Reference tools
Use print or digital resources to determine meaning, syllabication, and pronunciation.
4.3B
Context clues
Use context within and beyond a sentence to determine meaning of unfamiliar or multiple‑meaning words.
4.3C
Affixes & roots
Determine and use meanings of words with affixes (mis‑, sub‑, ‑ment, ‑ity/‑ty) and roots (auto, graph, meter).
4.3D
Homophones
Identify, use, and explain homophones such as reign/rain.
4.4
Fluency
Use appropriate fluency (rate, accuracy, prosody) when reading grade‑level text.
4.5
Independent reading
Self‑select texts and read independently for a sustained period of time.
4.6A
Purpose for reading
Establish purpose for reading assigned and self‑selected texts.
4.6B
Questioning
Generate questions before, during, and after reading.
4.6C
Predictions
Make and confirm or correct predictions using text features, genre, and structures.
4.6D
Mental images
Create mental images to deepen understanding.
4.6E
Connections
Make connections to personal experiences, other texts, and society.
4.6F
Inferences & evidence
Make inferences and use evidence to support understanding.
4.6G
Key ideas
Evaluate details to determine key ideas.
4.6H
Synthesize
Synthesize information to create new understanding.
4.6I
Monitor comprehension
Monitor and adjust comprehension (re‑read, background knowledge, questioning, annotating).
4.7A
Personal connections
Describe personal connections to a variety of sources, including self‑selected texts.
4.7B
Written responses
Write responses demonstrating understanding, incl. compare/contrast across sources.
4.7C
Use text evidence
Use text evidence to support an appropriate response.
4.7D
Retell/Paraphrase/Summarize
Retell, paraphrase, or summarize while maintaining meaning and logical order.
4.7E
Interact with sources
Notetaking, annotating, freewriting, illustrating.
4.7F
Use new vocabulary
Respond using newly acquired vocabulary.
4.7G
Discuss key ideas
Discuss specific ideas important to a text’s meaning.
4.8A
Theme
Infer basic themes with text evidence.
4.8B
Characters
Explain interactions and changes of characters.
4.8C
Plot
Analyze plot (rising action, climax, falling action, resolution).
4.8D
Setting
Explain how historical/cultural settings influence plot.
4.9A
Children’s literature
Distinguishing characteristics of folktales, fables, legends, myths, tall tales.
4.9B
Poetry devices
Explain simile, metaphor, personification used to create images.
4.9C
Drama structure
Explain character tags, acts, scenes, stage directions.
4.9D
Informational text
Central idea with evidence; features (e.g., pronunciation guides, diagrams); organizational patterns such as compare/contrast.
4.9E
Argumentative text
Identify the claim, use of facts, and intended audience/reader.
4.9F
Multimodal & digital
Recognize characteristics of multimodal and digital texts.