Grade 4 - English Language Arts

General Outcome 1: Students will listen, speak, read, write, view and represent to explore thoughts, ideas, feelings and experiences.

General Outcome 2: Students will listen, speak, read, write, view and represent to comprehend and respond personally and critically to oral, print and other media texts.

General Outcome 3: Students will listen, speak, read, write, view and represent to manage ideas and information. 

General Outcome 4: Students will listen, speak, read, write, view and represent to enhance the clarity and artistry of communication.

General Outcome 5: Students will listen, speak, read, write, view and represent to respect, support and collaborate with others. 

1.1 Discover & Explore

1.2 Clarify & Extend

2.1 Use Strategies & Cues

2.2 Respond to Texts

2.3 Understand Forms, Elements & Techniques

2.4 Create Original Text

3.1 Plan & Focus

3.2 Select & Process

3.3 Organize, Record & Evaluate

3.4 Share & Review

4.1 Enhance & Improve

4.2 Attend to Conventions

4.3 Present & Share

5.1 Respect Others & Strengthen Community

5.2 Work within a Group

compare new ideas, information & experiences to prior knowledge & experiences 

ask questions, paraphrase & discuss to explore ideas & understand new concepts 

share personal responses to explore & develop understanding of oral, print, and other media texts 

discuss & compare the ways similar topics are developed in different forms of oral, print, and other media texts

select preferred forms from a variety of oral, print, and other media texts 

identify areas of personal accomplishment & areas for enhancement in language learning & use 

identify other perspectives by exploring a variety of ideas, opinions, responses & oral, print, and other media texts 

use talk, notes, personal writing & representing to record & reflect on ideas, information & experiences

explore ways to find additional ideas & information to extend understanding 

use ideas & concepts, developed through personal interests, experiences & discussion, to understand new ideas & information explain how the organizational structure of oral, print, and other media texts can assist in constructing & confirming meaning 

explain how the organizational structure of oral, print, and other media texts can assist in constructing & confirming meaning 

preview sections of print texts to identify the general nature of the information & to set appropriate purpose & reading rate 

comprehend new ideas & information by responding personally & discussing ideas with others extend sight vocabulary to include words frequently used in other subject areas 

extend sight vocabulary to include words frequently used in other subject areas 

monitor understanding by confirming or revising inferences & predictions based on information in text 

use text features, such as headings, subheadings & margin organizers, to enhance understanding of ideas & information 

distinguish differences in the structural elements of texts, such as letters & storybooks, to access & comprehend ideas & information 

identify & know the meaning of some frequently used prefixes & suffixes 

apply knowledge of root words, compound words, syllabication, contractions & complex word families to read unfamiliar words in context

integrate knowledge of phonics & sight vocabulary with knowledge of language & context clues to read unfamiliar words in context 

use alphabetical order by first & second letter to locate information in reference materials 

use junior dictionaries, spell-check functions & electronic dictionaries to confirm the spellings or locate the meanings of unfamiliar words in oral, print, and other media texts 

experience oral, print, and other media texts from a variety of cultural traditions & genres, such as personal narratives, plays, novels, video programs, adventure stories, folktales, informational texts, mysteries, poetry & CDROM programs 

identify & discuss favourite authors, topics & kinds of oral, print, and other media texts 

discuss a variety of oral, print, and other media texts by the same author, illustrator, storyteller or filmmaker 

retell events of stories in another form or medium 

make general evaluative statements about oral, print, and other media texts 

connect the thoughts & actions of characters portrayed in oral, print, and other media texts to personal & classroom experiences 

identify the main events in oral, print, and other media texts; explain their causes, & describe how they influence subsequent events 

compare similar oral, print, and other media texts & express preferences, using evidence from personal experiences & the texts 

develop own opinions based on ideas encountered in oral, print, and other media texts 

explain how onomatopoeia & alliteration are used to create mental images 

explain how language & visuals work together to communicate meaning & enhance effect 

describe & compare the main characteristics of a variety of oral, print, and other media texts

identify various ways that information can be recorded & presented visually 

identify & explain connections among events, setting & main characters in oral, print, and other media texts 

identify the speaker or narrator of oral, print, and other media texts 

identify how specific techniques are used to affect viewer perceptions in media texts 

recognize how words & word combinations, such as word play, repetition & rhyme, influence or convey meaning

use a variety of strategies for generating & organizing ideas & experiences in oral, print, and other media texts 

select & use visuals that enhance meaning of oral, print, and other media texts 

produce oral, print, and other media texts that follow a logical sequence, & demonstrate clear relationships between character & plot 

produce narratives that describe experiences & reflect personal responses 

use organizational patterns of expository texts to understand ideas & information focus topics appropriately for particular audiences 

focus topics appropriately for particular audiences 

ask relevant questions, & respond to questions related to particular topics 

develop & follow a class plan for accessing & gathering ideas & information 

locate information to answer research questions, using a variety of sources, such as maps, atlases, charts, dictionaries, school libraries, video programs, elders in the community & field trips 

use a variety of tools, such as indices, legends, charts, glossaries, typographical features & dictionary guide words, to access information 

identify information sources that inform, persuade or entertain, & use such sources appropriately 

recall important points, & make & revise predictions regarding upcoming information  

organize ideas & information, using appropriate categories, chronological order, cause & effect, or posing & answering questions 

record ideas & information that are on topic organize oral, print, and other media texts into sections that relate to & develop the topic 

organize oral, print, and other media texts into sections that relate to & develop the topic 

make notes of keywords, phrases & images by subtopics; cite titles & authors of sources alphabetically 

paraphrase information from oral, print & other media sources 

examine gathered information to identify if more information is required; review new understanding

communicate ideas & information in a variety of oral, print, and other media texts, such as short reports, talks & posters 

select visuals, print &/or other media to add interest & to engage the audience 

identify strengths & areas for improvement in research process 

identify the general impression & main idea communicated by own & peers’ oral, print, and other media texts 

use pre-established criteria to provide support & feedback to peers on their oral, print, and other media texts 

revise to ensure an understandable progression of ideas & information

identify & reduce fragments & run-on sentences 

edit for subject–verb agreement 

write legibly, using a style that demonstrates awareness of alignment, shape & slant 

use special features of software when composing, formatting & revising texts 

use an increasing variety of words to express & extend understanding of concepts related to personal interests & topics of study 

recognize English words & expressions that come from other cultures or languages 

experiment with combining detail, voice-over, music & dialogue with sequence of events 

identify simple & compound sentence structures, & use in own writing 

identify correct noun–pronoun agreement, & use in own writing 

identify past, present & future action 

use phonic knowledge & skills & visual memory, systematically, to spell multi-syllable words in own writing 

identify & apply common spelling generalizations in own writing 

apply strategies for identifying & learning to spell problem words in own writing 

use capitalization to designate organizations & to indicate the beginning of quotations in own writing 

use commas after introductory words in sentences & when citing addresses in own writing 

identify quotation marks in passages of dialogue, & use them to assist comprehension 

present to peers ideas & information on a topic of interest, in a well-organized form

add interest to presentations through the use of props, such as pictures, overheads & artifacts

adjust volume, tone of voice & gestures appropriately, to suit a variety of social & classroom activities 

connect own ideas, opinions & experiences to those communicated in oral & visual presentations 

give constructive feedback, ask relevant questions, & express related opinions in response to oral & visual presentations 

describe similarities & differences between personal experiences & the experiences of people or characters from various cultures portrayed in oral, print, and other media texts 

appreciate that responses to some oral, print, and other media texts may be different 

identify & discuss main characters, plots, settings & illustrations in oral, print, and other media texts from diverse cultures & communities 

use appropriate language to acknowledge special events & to honour accomplishments in & beyond the classroom 

▶ identify & discuss differences in language use in a variety of school & community contexts 

take responsibility for collaborating with others to achieve group goals 

ask for & provide information & assistance, as appropriate, for completing individual & group tasks 

share personal knowledge of a topic to develop purposes for research or investigations & possible categories of questions 

use brainstorming, summarizing & reporting to organize & carry out group projects 

assess group process, using established criteria, & determine areas for improvement