CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.2d

ELA4th GradeConventions of Standard English

The Standard

Spell grade-appropriate words correctly, consulting references as needed.

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students write familiar and newly learned words with accurate spelling. When unsure, they use a print or digital dictionary, word wall, or glossary to check and correct a word.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student spells most words expected in fourth-grade writing accurately. The student notices doubtful spellings, finds the correct form in a reference, and revises independently.
Common Misconceptions: Students may rely only on how a word sounds, especially with silent letters, vowel teams, and irregular forms. They may choose the first dictionary entry they see or assume spell-check always selects the intended word.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: Write two sentences about recess using because, friend, and different. Circle one word you checked in a dictionary and correct it if needed.

Lesson moves

Give pairs letter tiles to build eight target words, then have them verify each spelling with dictionaries and repair any errors.
Ask students to explain in writing which part of a tricky word is hardest to remember and which reference helped them check it.
Play Dictionary Relay: teams draw a word card, find the word, record its spelling and guide words, then pass the dictionary.
Have students proofread a mock lunch menu for spelling errors, confirm corrections with a reference, and produce a clean final menu.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.2d, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

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