Your Child's Communication: Fourth Grade

By the end of fourth grade your child should be able to do the following:

Listening

§  Listen to and understand information presented by others

§  Form opinions based on evidence

§  Listen for specific purposes

Speaking

§  Use words appropriately in conversation

§  Use language effectively for a variety of purposes

§  Understand some figurative language (e.g., "the forest stretched across…")

§  Participate in group discussions

§  Give accurate directions to others

§  Summarize and restate ideas

§  Organize information for clarity

§  Use subject area information and vocabulary (e.g., social studies) for learning

§  Make effective oral presentations

Reading

§  Read for specific purposes

§  Read grade-level books fluently

§  Use previously learned information to understand new material

§  Follow written directions

§  Take brief notes

§  Link information learned to different subjects

§  Learn meanings of new words through knowledge of word origins, synonyms, and multiple meanings

§  Use reference materials (e.g., dictionary)

§  Explain the author's purpose and writing style

§  Read and understand a variety of types of literature, including fiction, nonfiction, historical fiction, and poetry

§  Compare and contrast in content areas

§  Make inferences from texts

§  Paraphrase content, including the main idea and details

Writing

§  Write effective stories and explanations, including several paragraphs about the same topic

§  Develop a plan for writing, including a beginning, middle, and end

§  Organize writing to convey a central idea

§  Edit final copies for grammar, punctuation, and spelling