The foundational skill standards are directed toward fostering students’ understanding and working knowledge of concepts of print, the alphabetic principle, and other basic conventions of the English writing system. These foundational skills are not an
end in and of themselves; rather, they are necessary and important components of an effective, comprehensive reading program designed to develop proficient readers with the capacity to comprehend texts across a range of types and disciplines.
Phonics: In fourth grade students continue to use strategies that enable them to decode multi-syllable words both in and out of context while reading.
Fluency: Fluency is defined as being able to read orally with a reasonable rate of speed, with a high degree of accuracy, and with the proper expression (prosody). Fluency is one of several critical factors necessary for reading
comprehension.
Fluency changes, depending on what readers are reading, their familiarity with the words, and the amount of their practice with reading text. Even very skilled readers may read in a slow, labored manner when reading texts with many unfamiliar words
or topics. For example, readers who are usually fluent may not be able to read technical material fluently, such as a textbook about nuclear physics or an article in a medical journal.
How to help my child at home with the Foundational Skill Standards:
Encourage your child to read many types of books. Your child may also build fluency by reading the words to songs, poems, or speeches.
By reading with your child each night you are helping build his or her fluency! In fact, reading the same passages (and even their own writing) repeatedly gives your child an opportunity to listen, practice, and improve fluency.
Strands are larger groups of related standards. The Strand Grade is a calculation of all the related standards. Click on the standard name below each strand to access the learning targets and proficiency scales for
each strand's related standards.
Grade 4
