for families

This Parent Guide is designed to highlight student grade-level expectations. These expectations have been aligned with the Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALRs) and the Grade Level Expectations (GLEs). These expectations provide specific learning standards for students in grades K-10. They clarify the skills and strategies all students need to demonstrate proficiency in each content area.

Additionally, the assessments used to determine student achievement are outlined for reading, writing, and math.

Reading
Students read skillfully with meaning and purpose using comprehension and vocabulary strategies. They read, reflect, discuss, and respond to a wide variety of fiction and nonfiction using evidence from the text. Students read for pleasure and information choosing books based on personal preference, topic, theme, and author.

Grade Level Expectations
Students are expected to meet one of the two following expectations by the end of the year:

Writing
Students write to describe, tell a story, and explain. They are aware of the connections between topic, audience, purpose, and form. Their use of word choice and sentence fluency creates powerful writing. They apply their growing understanding of conventions and the writing process (pre-write, draft, revise, edit and publish) to improve their writing.

Grade Level Expectations
Students are expected to meet the expectation on the district writing assessment or through trait scores on classroom writing samples by the end of the year:

Math
Students develop their fluency in addition, subtraction, and multiplication of whole numbers while developing the concept of division. They are developing an understanding of fractions and decimals. Students use the standard units and the metric system to measure temperature, perimeter, area, and weight. Students refine their estimation skills for computation and measurement. The concept of probability (as chance) is developed. Students continue to expand their understanding of statistics using a variety of graphs and finding the mean, median, and mode. Students in geometry recognize reflection (flip) and a translation (slide).

Grade Level Expectations
Students are expected to meet the following expectations by the end of the year:

Glossary

Degrees of Reading Power (DRP)
A standardized assessment given to determine how well they understand what students read.

Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA)
The DRA helps teachers pinpoint students' strengths and reading abilities in a one-on-one conference.

Six Trait Writing
In the Sumner School District six distinct traits of writing are taught and assessed:

Ideas

When ideas are strong, the message is clear and easy to follow. Things make sense because the writer includes detail.

Organization

Organization is the structure of writing. A writer with strong organization stays focused on the main idea. They have a sense of sequencing and the reader sees a distinct beginning, middle, and end.

Conventions

Conventions fall under the heading of spelling, punctuation, grammar, and capitalization. Neatness, while important, is not considered part of the six-trait model.

Voice

Voice is the uniqueness of each writer. Voice lets the reader know the writer is personally engaged in the topic and is aware that they are communicating with an audience.

Word Choice

Word Choice is the use of rich, colorful, and precise language. It is free of awkward sentences that slow a reader down. Strong word choice paints a picture in the reader’s mind. It uses everyday language naturally and in a fresh or unexpected way.

Sentence Fluency

Sentence Fluency is the rhythm and flow of the language. Sentences vary in length and style and are so well crafted that reading aloud is a pleasure.

Parent Guide To Student Learning Grade 4

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