Virginia State Standards for Language Arts: Grade 4

4.1. The student will use effective oral communication skills in a variety of settings.

4.1.a) Present accurate directions to individuals and small groups.

4.1.b) Contribute to group discussions.

4.1.c) Seek ideas and opinions of others.

4.1.d) Use evidence to support opinions.

4.1.e) Use grammatically correct language and specific vocabulary to communicate ideas.

4.2. The student will make and listen to oral presentations and reports.

4.2.a) Use subject-related information and vocabulary.

4.2.b) Listen to and record information.

4.2.c) Organize information for clarity.

4.3. The student will read fiction and nonfiction with fluency and accuracy.

4.3.a) Use context to clarify meanings of unfamiliar words.

4.3.b) Explain words with multiple meanings.

4.3.c) Use knowledge of word origins; synonyms, antonyms, and homonyms; and multiple meanings of words.

4.3.d) Use word-reference materials, including the glossary, dictionary, and thesaurus.

4.4. The student will read and demonstrate comprehension of fiction.

4.4.a) Explain the author's purpose.

4.4.b) Describe how the choice of language, setting, and information contributes to the author's purpose.

4.4.c) Compare the use of fact and fantasy in historical fiction with other forms of literature.

4.4.d) Identify major events and supporting details.

4.4.e) Describe the relationship between text and previously read materials.

4.4.f) Identify sensory words.

4.5. The student will read and demonstrate comprehension of nonfiction.

4.5.a) Use text organizers, such as type, headings, and graphics, to predict and categorize information.

4.5.b) Formulate questions that might be answered in the selection.

4.5.c) Explain the author's purpose.

4.5.d) Make simple inferences, using information from texts.

4.5.e) Draw conclusions, using information from texts.

4.5.f) Summarize content of selection, identifying important ideas and providing details for each important idea.

4.5.g) Describe relationship between content and previously learned concepts or skills.

4.5.h) Distinguish between cause and effect and between fact and opinion.

4.5.i) Identify new information gained from reading.

4.6. The student will demonstrate comprehension of information resources to research a topic.

4.6.a) Construct questions about a topic.

4.6.b) Collect information, using the resources of the media center, including online, print, and media resources.

4.6.c) Evaluate and synthesize information.

4.7. The student will write effective narratives, poems, and explanations.

4.7.a) Focus on one aspect of a topic.

4.7.b) Develop a plan for writing.

4.7.c) Organize writing to convey a central idea.

4.7.d) Write several related paragraphs on the same topic.

4.7.e) Utilize elements of style, including word choice and sentence variation.

4.7.f) Write rhymed, unrhymed, and patterned poetry.

4.7.g) Use available technology.

4.8. The student will edit writing for correct grammar, capitalization, spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure.

4.8.a) Use subject-verb agreement.

4.8.b) Include prepositional phrases.

4.8.c) Eliminate double negatives.

4.8.d) Use noun-pronoun agreement.

4.8.e) Use commas in series, dates, and addresses.

4.8.f) Incorporate adjectives and adverbs.

4.8.g) Use the articles a, an, and the correctly.

4.8.h) Use correct spelling for frequently used words, including common homophones.