4th Grade ELA (Arizona ELA Standards)

Reading Standards for Literature

• 4.RL.1 Refer to details and examples when explaining what a story says explicitly and when drawing inferences.
• 4.RL.2 Work out the theme of a story, play or poem from its details and summarize it.
• 4.RL.3 Describe a character, setting or event in depth, drawing on specific details such as thoughts, words or actions.
• 4.RL.4 Work out the meaning of words and phrases, including those that allude to major characters in mythology.
• 4.RL.5 Explain major differences in structure between poems, drama and prose (verse, rhythm, meter, cast, stage directions).
• 4.RL.6 Compare and contrast the point of view of different stories, including first- and third-person narration.
• 4.RL.7 Connect a story or drama text with a visual or oral presentation of it, noting where each reflects the other.
• 4.RL.9 Compare how stories, myths and traditional tales from different cultures handle similar themes and event patterns.
• 4.RL.10 By year's end, read grade 4 stories, plays and poems well on their own.

Reading Standards for Informational Text

• 4.RI.1 Refer to details and examples when explaining what an informational text says explicitly and when inferring.
• 4.RI.2 Find the main idea of a text, explain how key details support it and summarize the text.
• 4.RI.3 Explain the events, steps, ideas or concepts in a history, science or technical text: what happened and the reasons.
• 4.RI.4 Work out the meaning of general academic and subject-specific words and phrases in a grade 4 text.
• 4.RI.5 Describe the overall structure of a text or part of a text (chronology, comparison, cause/effect, problem/solution).
• 4.RI.6 Compare and contrast a firsthand and a secondhand account of the same event, describing differences in focus and information.
• 4.RI.7 Interpret information shown visually, orally or quantitatively (charts, timelines, web elements) and explain how it adds to the text.
• 4.RI.8 Explain how an author backs up specific points with reasons and evidence.
• 4.RI.9 Pull together facts from two texts on one topic to write or speak about it with knowledge.
• 4.RI.10 By the end of the year, read and understand grade 4 informational texts independently and proficiently.

Reading Standards: Foundational Skills

• 4.RF.3 Know and apply grade-level phonics, word analysis and morphology to decode multisyllable words in and out of context.
  • a. Use combined knowledge of letter-sound links to read unfamiliar multisyllable words accurately.
  • b. Use the six syllable types to read grade-level words accurately.
  • c. Use combined knowledge of morphology (roots and affixes) to read grade-level words accurately.
• 4.RF.4 Read with enough accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.
  • a. Read texts at grade level with a clear purpose and understanding.
  • b. Read grade-level prose and poetry aloud accurately, at a suitable rate and with expression, over repeated readings.
  • c. Use context to confirm or correct word recognition and understanding, rereading as needed.

Writing Standards

• 4.W.1 Write opinion pieces about a topic or text and back the opinion with reasons and information.
  • a. Introduce the topic clearly, state an opinion and group related ideas logically.
  • b. Give reasons supported by facts and details.
  • c. Connect the opinion and reasons with linking phrases (e.g. for instance, in addition).
  • d. End with a conclusion related to the opinion.
• 4.W.2 Write informative texts that examine a topic and convey ideas clearly.
  • a. Introduce a topic, group information in paragraphs and sections, and add formatting, illustrations or media when useful.
  • b. Build up the topic with facts, definitions, specific details, quotations or examples.
  • c. Link ideas within categories with words such as another, for example, also, because.
  • d. Use precise language and subject vocabulary.
  • e. End with a conclusion related to the information.
• 4.W.3 Write narratives of real or imagined experiences with descriptive details and a clear sequence.
  • a. Set up a situation, introduce a narrator or characters and let events unfold naturally.
  • b. Use dialogue and description to develop events or show characters' responses.
  • c. Use different transition words and phrases to keep the order of events clear.
  • d. Use concrete words, phrases and sensory details to convey events precisely.
  • e. End with a conclusion that follows from the events.
• 4.W.4 Produce clear, coherent writing whose development and organization suit the task, purpose and audience.
• 4.W.5 With help from classmates and adults, improve writing by planning, revising and editing.
• 4.W.6 With some help, use technology and the internet to create, share and collaborate on writing.
• 4.W.7 Do short research projects that build knowledge by investigating different aspects of a topic.
• 4.W.8 Recall or gather relevant information from experience and print or digital sources, take notes, categorize them and list sources.
• 4.W.9 Use evidence from literature or informational texts to back up analysis, reflection and research.
  • a. Apply grade 4 reading standards to literature in writing.
  • b. Use the grade 4 informational reading skills when writing about nonfiction.
• 4.W.10 Write often, in long projects and short sittings, for many tasks, purposes and readers.

Writing Foundations (Arizona)

• 4.WF.1 Show handwriting skills by forming upper- and lowercase cursive letters.
  • a. Read and write upper- and lowercase cursive letters.
  • b. Write ideas legibly and fluently with suitable spacing and paragraph indents.

Speaking and Listening Standards

• 4.SL.1 Take part effectively in one-on-one, group and teacher-led discussions, building on others' ideas and expressing one's own.
  • a. Come prepared and draw on that preparation to explore ideas.
  • b. Follow agreed rules for discussion and carry out assigned roles.
  • c. Ask and answer specific questions and link comments to others' remarks.
  • d. Review the key ideas of the discussion and explain one's own ideas in light of it.
• 4.SL.2 Put into own words parts of a read-aloud or information shown in different media.
• 4.SL.3 Identify the reasons and evidence a speaker gives to support points.
• 4.SL.4 Give an organized report, story or account of an experience with fitting facts and details, speaking clearly.
• 4.SL.5 Add sound recordings and visuals to a presentation when they strengthen its main ideas or themes.
• 4.SL.6 Tell apart situations that need formal English from those where informal talk fits, and use formal English when suitable.

Language Standards

• 4.L.1 Use correct standard English grammar when speaking and writing.
  • a. Use relative pronouns and relative adverbs.
  • b. Form and use the progressive verb tenses.
  • c. Use modal auxiliaries (can, may, must) to show different conditions.
  • d. Order adjectives in the usual pattern (e.g. a small red bag).
  • e. Form and use prepositional phrases.
  • f. Produce complete sentences, fixing fragments and run-ons.
  • g. Use frequently confused words correctly (e.g. to, too, two; there, their).
  • h. Write a paragraph with a topic sentence, supporting details and a conclusion.
• 4.L.2 Show command of capitalization, punctuation and spelling when writing.
  • a. Use correct capitalization.
  • b. Use commas and quotation marks for direct speech and quotations.
  • c. In a compound sentence, place a comma before the joining word (and, but, or).
  • d. Spell grade-level words correctly, checking references as needed.
• 4.L.3 Apply what is known about language and its rules in writing, speaking, reading and listening.
  • a. Pick words and phrases that express ideas exactly.
  • b. Choose punctuation for effect.
  • c. Tell apart contexts for formal English and informal discourse.
• 4.L.4 Work out unknown and multiple-meaning words using a range of strategies.
  • a. Use familiar Greek and Latin word parts (roots, prefixes, suffixes) as meaning clues.
  • b. Use context (definitions, examples, restatements) as a clue to meaning.
  • c. Use print and digital references (dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses) to find pronunciation and meaning.
• 4.L.5 Understand figurative language, how words relate and fine shades of meaning.
  • a. Explain simple similes and metaphors in context.
  • b. Recognize and explain common idioms, adages and proverbs.
  • c. Show what words mean by linking them to their opposites and to words that mean the same.
• 4.L.6 Learn and use grade-level general academic and subject-specific words, including precise actions, emotions or states.