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
Resource: http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/fourthgrade.htm