CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.4
The Standard
Ask and answer questions to help determine or clarify the meaning of words and phrases in a text.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Reading Standards for Informational Text
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students stop at unfamiliar words or phrases in an informational text. They ask what the language means, then use nearby words, pictures, and answers to clarify it.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can name a confusing word or phrase and ask a focused question about it. The student gives a reasonable meaning and points to a text or picture clue.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may guess from the picture even when the sentence suggests a different meaning. They may repeat the sentence instead of explaining the target word. Some ask broad questions rather than asking about the unfamiliar language.
How to Assess It
- Give this exit ticket: “A cactus stores water in its stem.” Ask, “What does stores mean, and which words help you know?”
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs a short animal text, sticky notes, and picture cards; students mark one unknown word and match it to a helpful picture.
Read a page about weather, then have students ask and answer, “What does this word mean, and what clue helped?”
Play Context Clue Match by pairing sentence cards containing bold words with simple meaning cards.
Examine a lunch menu or classroom sign and discuss how pictures and nearby words explain unfamiliar words.
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Printable RI.1.4 Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.4, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.
Download the worksheetLearning progression
Where This Standard Sits
See the whole path on the Reading: Informational Text progression map.
Before This Standard
If students are struggling here, check these first.
What This Unlocks
Mastery here sets students up for these next.
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Related Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.K.3
Ask and answer questions in order to seek help, get information, or clarify something that is not understood.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.1.3
Ask and answer questions about what a speaker says in order to gather additional information or clarify something that is not understood.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.2.3
Ask and answer questions about what a speaker says in order to clarify comprehension, gather additional information, or deepen understanding of a topic or issue...
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.K.4
Ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text.
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