CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.4c
The Standard
Consult reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation and determine or clarify the precise meaning of key words and phrases.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students choose a dictionary, glossary, or thesaurus based on what they need to learn. They locate an entry, read its pronunciation, and select the meaning that fits the word's context.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students quickly select the most useful reference source and locate the correct entry. They pronounce the word accurately and explain which meaning fits its context.
Common Misconceptions
- Students often copy the first definition without checking whether it fits the sentence. They may expect a thesaurus to provide full definitions or assume a glossary includes every unfamiliar word. Some mistake syllable breaks or stress marks for spelling changes.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Give students a sentence with one bold word and access to reference materials. Ask them to name the source used, record the pronunciation, and choose the definition that fits.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs print dictionaries and word cards; students use guide words, copy the pronunciation, and choose the definition that fits each sentence.
Ask students to write when a glossary helps more than a dictionary or thesaurus, then support their choice with one example.
Run a reference relay where teams draw a word card, choose the best source, locate the entry, and report meaning and pronunciation.
Have students use a science textbook glossary to explain a key term, then check a dictionary for pronunciation and added meanings.
Free download
Printable L.4.4c Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.4c, 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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Where This Standard Sits
What This Unlocks
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