Grade 4 Curriculum
These translated guides support caregivers in understanding what students are expected to know and be able to do by the end of each grade.
We value your thoughts and are here to answer your questions! Please feel free to reach out to your child's teacher, school-based literacy coach, or the ELA Department as needed.
Curriculum Overview
Beginning in September 2024, all 1st-5th grade classrooms will implement the Amplify CKLA (2nd Edition) Curriculum.
Amplify CKLA is a top-rated literacy program offering explicit, systematic instruction of grade-level literacy standards through thematic, knowledge- and vocabulary-building content. With engaging units focused on ancient civilizations, astronomy, ecology, literary genres, research, contemporary novels, and more, students are empowered to achieve strong academic outcomes and are prepared to use literacy as a tool for creativity, self-expression, access, and agency.
Prior to implementation, interdisciplinary leaders and educators worked collaboratively to develop program revisions and supplements that ensure CKLA aligns with CPS systems, schedules, and expectations for culturally and linguistically sustaining instruction.
Grades 3-5:
In grades 3-5, students engage in 110-120 minutes of ELA instruction that integrates skills and knowledge-building content.
Instruction emphasizes student engagement in increasingly complex texts, with daily reading, writing, analysis and discussion. Students learn and apply advanced language skills related to grammar, syntax, morphology and writing, and engage in structured and informal discussions to build and solidify a robust academic vocabulary.
In addition, 3-5th graders engage in debates, acting performances, interactive Quests, a project-based Research Unit, and contemporary novel studies.
Assessments:
All students complete the mCLASS (K-2) or i-Ready (3-5) literacy screener/diagnostic 3x annually. These screeners provide educators and caregivers with important information about each students’ strengths and areas for continued support. Students in grades 3-5 also take the MA State ELA MCAS each spring.
In addition to district and state-mandated assessments, each curricular unit ends with an assessment of students’ domain knowledge and literacy skills. These assessments allow teachers, students and caregivers to know how students are performing independently.
Learn more about grade-specific assessments here.
Homework:
Homework assignments are strategically determined by classroom teachers based on the needs of their classroom. This may include additional readings from the curriculum, opportunities to continue working on a written response, or extended practice with specific skills.
In addition, students can access Boost Reading (K-2) or i-Ready Personalized Instruction (3-5) in school and outside of school (at home, after school programs, vacations). Both of these adaptive online programs create a unique sequence of lessons for each student based on their diagnostic data.
Caregivers can learn more about how their child can access Personalized Instruction at home here.
Intervention & Acceleration:
Using multiple forms of student data, educators design learning experiences that provide each student with appropriately challenging learning opportunities. This includes opportunities for acceleration/advancement and intervention/remediation from classroom teachers and/or interventionists. Educators routinely reflect on student learning and assessment data to differentiate instruction for their students.
In addition, students can access Boost Reading (K-2) or i-Ready Personalized Instruction (grades 3-5) in and outside of school. Learn about personalized instruction here.
Learn more about literacy intervention here.
Grade 4 Knowledge Domains:
Grade-Level Novel Study:
Research Units:
Core Instructional Practices Of The Integrated (Grades 3-5) CKLA Curriculum Include:
ENGAGE STUDENTS IN ONGOING ANALYSIS OF COMPLEX TEXTS
ELA/Literacy standards emphasize reading and writing in response to increasingly complex texts. Amplify CKLA provides daily exposure to such texts, with discussions and written responses to literal, evaluative, and inferential questions. Students frequently revisit passages for deeper analysis. Both informational and literary texts build upon earlier units, increasing in complexity. Writing instruction is integrated with reading, including daily journal entries, single-sitting prompts, and longer projects. Grades 4 and 5 include immersive digital writing Quests.
FOSTER STUDENT DISCOURSE & WRITTEN EXPRESSION
Through engaging texts and tasks, students develop the ability to present, debate, and build on oral and written responses. Speaking and Listening activities in Grade 3 focus on read-alouds and complex conversations about texts using evidence. In grades 3–5, activities expand to include short and long-term writing assignments, presentations, debates, acting performances, and pitching ideas and inventions.
PROVIDE EXPLICIT LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION
Grades 3-5 offer explicit language instruction covering all language standards. Instruction includes English grammar, punctuation, syntax, morphology and spelling through targeted activities and daily writing.
OFFER A RICH VARIETY OF TEXTS AND CONTEXTS
Students read knowledge-rich texts, including informational texts on scientific topics, ancient history, poetry, and classic fiction, including selected vignettes from The House on Mango Street and more. In addition, students read articles and primary source documents to write opinions, arguments and narratives, crafting their own increasingly complex texts.
MAXIMIZE VOCABULARY ACQUISITION
Critical reading depends on a wide breadth of knowledge and vocabulary. Decoding a word doesn't mean understanding it; students need prior experience with words. Through the intentional sequence of CKLA units, students are repeatedly exposed to complex vocabulary through connected content. In grades 3-5, students also engage in structured and informal discussions, combined with independent reading, to build and solidify a robust academic vocabulary.
CONTINUOUSLY BUILD BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE
Strong reading comprehension requires broad knowledge and vocabulary. Grades 3-5 continue to build on the K-2 CKLA content. The Core Connections section in each unit’s introduction overviews this accumulated knowledge which enables students to comprehend complex texts, make connections, and engage in extended discussions. Read-Alouds are used frequently in Grade 3 and selectively in Grades 4 and 5, transitioning to small group and individual reading of complex texts.