Virginia SOL 4.C.1.A.iii
The Standard
Asking and answering specific questions to clarify concepts, share, or follow up on information, make connections, and confirm new understanding(s).
Virginia Standards of Learning for English · Communication, Listening, and Collaboration
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students ask specific questions during partner and group discussions. They answer with relevant details, then ask follow-up questions to clarify ideas, make connections, or check understanding.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student asks focused questions that match the topic or text. The student answers with relevant details, listens to others, and asks follow-up questions that connect ideas or confirm understanding.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may ask vague questions without naming the idea they want explained. They may repeat a previous question instead of building on an answer. Some answer from personal opinion when the discussion calls for details from the text.
How to Assess It
- Give pairs a short paragraph and this prompt: Ask one question that clarifies an idea, then ask a follow-up based on your partner’s answer.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs a short article and five color-coded question cards; they take turns asking, answering, and adding a follow-up.
Discuss how the character’s choice affected the ending, and require each student to ask one clarifying or connection question.
Play Question Relay: one student answers a text-based prompt, then chooses a classmate to ask a related follow-up question.
Hold a mock class meeting about recess rules, with students asking specific questions before proposing or responding to a change.
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Printable 4.C.1.A.iii Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 4.C.1.A.iii, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
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Related Standards
- 3.C.1.A.iii
Asking and responding to questions that acquire or confirm information on a topic and link their comments to the remarks of others.
- 2.C.1.A.iii
Asking and responding to questions that acquire or confirm information on a topic.
- 1.C.1.A.iii
Asking questions to seek help, get information, or clarify information for further understanding.
- 5.C.1.A.iii
Asking and answering relevant questions to build on others’ ideas, clarify ideas, and acquire or confirm information.
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