Course Description
In the Grade 4 ELA program, students continue to develop their ability to use English as a tool for learning, thinking, and communicating across various fields. The program is designed to enhance academic language skills by integrating practice in all four areas: reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
Students are exposed to a wide range of text genres—including fiction, folktales, biographies, poetry, plays, scientific articles, interviews, and photo journals—to strengthen reading comprehension and analytical thinking skills.
In writing, students practice various types of compositions such as personal narratives, descriptive essays, literary responses, opinion pieces, and research reports—learning to organize ideas clearly and support arguments with evidence. Speaking skills are reinforced through presentations and discussions with the teacher, helping students confidently express their ideas, listen actively, and communicate effectively.
By the end of the school year, students are able to analyze complex ideas, articulate their reasoning, and use English flexibly in both academic tasks and real-life communication situations.
Learning Content
- Genres
In Grade 4, students are exposed to a wide variety of text genres such as fiction, folktales, biographies, poetry, plays, scientific articles, interviews, and photo journals. Reading and analyzing different genres helps students understand the purpose of each type of text, recognize content structures, identify the author’s tone, and develop the ability to compare and contrast literary and informational formats. This, in turn, enhances their reading comprehension and deepens their awareness of the role of language across various fields.
2. Phonics
The program continues to reinforce pronunciation skills through practice with advanced sound patterns such as prefixes, suffixes, and compound words. Students learn to identify sound rules, analyze word structures, and pronounce words accurately in both spoken communication and oral reading. These skills directly support reading fluency, vocabulary expansion, and improved spelling.
3. Reading Strategies
Students are guided to use active and effective reading strategies, including visualizing, making connections, drawing conclusions, analyzing cause and effect, and identifying key details. Applying these strategies helps them gain deeper understanding of the text, develop critical thinking skills, and learn how to ask questions, evaluate, and interpret meaning.
4. Thinking Maps
Thinking maps such as sequence chains, tree maps, bubble maps, and flow maps are integrated throughout the program. Students learn to organize and present information logically, supporting idea generation for writing, text analysis, and presentations. Using thinking maps helps them develop clear, systematic thinking and approach abstract concepts more effectively.
5. Oral Language Projects
Through activities such as presentations, guided discussions, and storytelling, students practice academic communication skills and expressing emotions in English. They learn to listen actively, respond appropriately, and present ideas coherently, building confidence for academic and real-world communication.
6. Writing Projects
The writing program covers a variety of academic and creative forms, including literary responses, descriptive writing, procedural explanations, research reports, emails, interviews, and opinion essays. Students learn to construct clear paragraphs, use precise vocabulary, apply sound reasoning, and follow coherent structures. This fosters strong academic writing skills and the ability to communicate effectively in written form.
Learning Methodology
To help students succeed in Grade 4 ELA, teachers apply an integrated, student-centered approach in which language content is combined with knowledge from subjects such as science, social studies, and literature. The learning process follows a cycle of guided instruction – supported practice – independent application, gradually building learner autonomy. Interactive activities such as online forum discussions, project-based writing, and frequent use of thinking maps encourage critical thinking, clear expression, and effective collaboration.
To excel in this program, students need to develop learning skills such as self-study and information organization, academic communication in both speaking and writing, critical thinking, and a collaborative, proactive attitude. These skills not only help students meet program requirements but also lay a solid foundation for flexible English use in both academic and real-life contexts.
Lessons:
