4.1.A
The Standard
listen actively, ask relevant questions to clarify information, and make pertinent comments
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for English Language Arts and Reading
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students focus on a speaker’s message and track the main ideas and details. They ask questions when information is unclear and respond with comments that stay on topic.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students can summarize a speaker’s main point before responding. They ask a question that clears up missing information and add a comment that builds on the speaker’s idea.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may ask questions that change the subject or repeat information already given. They may confuse a relevant comment with a personal story that has little connection to the speaker’s point.
How to Assess It
- Give a one-minute explanation of a class procedure. Ask students to write one clarifying question and one comment that connects directly to what they heard.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
In pairs, one student gives directions for building a cube pattern while the listener asks questions, builds, and then switches roles.
After a short read-aloud, students write one clarifying question and one connected comment, then share both with a partner.
Play Relevant or Random by reading response cards aloud while teams decide whether each response connects to the speaker’s point.
Students listen to a morning announcement and record one key detail, one clarifying question, and one useful comment.
Keep exploring
Related Standards
- 5.1.A
listen actively to interpret verbal and non-verbal messages, ask relevant questions, and make pertinent comments;
- 1.1.A
listen actively, ask relevant questions to clarify information, and answer questions using multi-word responses;
- 3.1.A
The 3rd Grade version of this standard.
- 2.1.A
listen actively, ask relevant questions to clarify information, and answer questions using multi-word responses;
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