CT Common Core Language Standards for 4th Grade

On July 7, 2010, the Connecticut State Board of Education adopted the new Common Core State Standards. While the Standards have yet to be implemented (and will most likely undergo further changes), what follows is a summary of the National and Connecticut State Language Standards for 4th Grade Students (broken down into three levels of common categories). These will eventually be implemented statewide, including all of Fairfield County:

Conventions of Standard English

1. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
   1. Use relative pronouns (who, whose, whom, which, that) and relative adverbs (where, when, why).
   2. Form and use the progressive (e.g., I was walking; I am walking; I will be walking) verb tenses.
   3. Use modal auxiliaries (e.g., can, may, must) to convey various conditions.
   4. Order adjectives within sentences according to conventional patterns (e.g., a small red bag rather than a red small bag).
   5. Form and use prepositional phrases.
   6. Produce complete sentences, recognizing and correcting inappropriate fragments and run-ons.
   7. Correctly use frequently confused words (e.g., to, too, two; there, their).
2. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
   1. Use correct capitalization.
   2. Use commas and quotation marks to mark direct speech and quotations from a text.
   3. Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction in a compound sentence.
   4. Spell grade-appropriate words correctly, consulting references as needed.

Knowledge of Language

1. Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.
   1. Choose words and phrases to convey ideas precisely.
   2. Choose punctuation for effect.
   3. Differentiate between contexts that call for formal English (e.g., presenting ideas) and situations where informal discourse is appropriate (e.g., small-group discussion).

 Vocabulary Acquisition and Use

1. Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 4 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
   1. Use context (e.g., definitions, examples, or restatements in text) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
   2. Use common, grade-appropriate Greek and Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., telegraph, photograph, autograph).
   3. Consult reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation and determine or clarify the precise meaning of key words and phrases.
2. Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
   1. Explain the meaning of simple similes and metaphors (e.g., as pretty as a picture) in context.
   2. Recognize and explain the meaning of common idioms, adages, and proverbs.
   3. Demonstrate understanding of words by relating them to their opposites (antonyms) and to words with similar but not identical meanings (synonyms).
3. Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, including those that signal precise actions, emotions, or states of being (e.g., quizzed, whined, stammered) and that are basic to a particular topic (e.g., wildlife, conservation, and endangered when discussing animal preservation).