4th Grade Reading

The main literacy goal for children in fourth grade is to read and understand grade level materials. Your child will be able to read longer words and use clues to determine the meanings of unknown words. Your child will also gain meaning from reading by using details to identify the main idea. Your child will write stories and informational pieces throughout the year. Their writing will be be focused, organized and edited. Fourth graders should be able to demonstrate the following skills.

Reading

Children this age will...

• use reading strategies to determine unknown words (roots, prefixes, suffixes).
• read multi-syllable words quickly and correctly.
• read with appropriate speed and expression.
• summarize the key details.
• draw inferences from text.
• describe characters, events, ideas and themes within the text.
• compare and contrast the points of view, themes and sequence of events from different texts.
• pay close attention to key features of informational books and articles. These features include understanding the main and supporting ideas, being able to compare and contrast information, and explaining how the author uses facts, details and evidence to support particular cultures.
• independently conduct short research projects on different aspects of a topic using evidence from books and the internet.

Writing

Children this age will...

• express opinions with supporting reasons.
• write informative papers that clearly express ideas.
• write stories that introduce a narrator and characters, use sensory details (sight, sound, smell) and include what the characters say, feel and think.
• correct their writing with support.
• write short research projects using many sources.
• use correct capitalization, punctuation, spelling and grammar.
• put together information from many texts and media types such as TV, radio and internet.

Speaking and Listening

Children this age will...

• engage in discussions to express themselves or to report on a topic.
• verbally summarize information from different texts and media types such as TV, radio and internet.
• speak about a subject in an informed way.