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4th Grade Language Arts

Reading Expectations: Your child should read for at least 25 minutes every night. Your child can read independently or to you, a sibling, a friend or a relative. You may want to ask your child the following questions while reading:

  1. Tell me about the big idea from this story or text. What details from the story support this big idea?
  2. Why do you think that characters said/did that? What does the character do/say that makes you think that?
  3. What were some of the problems in the story? How were those problems solved?
  4. What do you think might happen next in the story? What makes you think that?
  5. Were there any interesting details or facts that you learned about? What did the author do to help teach you?
  6. Summarize what you read for me. Tell it across your fingers.

Level K-L-M books

Level N-O-P Books

Level Q-R-S Books

Level T-U-V Books

Other Suggested Books to Read- arranged by DRA / F&P Book Level

  • K leveled books include:
    • Madeline by Bermelmans
    • Bones series by David Adler
    • Comander Toad series by Arnold Lobel
    • Inch by Inch by Lionni
    • Don’t let the Pigeon Stay Up Late by Mo Willems
    • Nate the Great series by Sharmat
    • Sheila Rae, the Brave by Henkes
    • Frances series by Russell Hoban
    • Arthur series by Lillian Hoban
    • The Relatives Came by Rylant

    L leveled books include:

    • Amanda Pig and Oliver series by Van Leeuwen
    • Ricky Ricotta series by Dav Pinkey
    • Pinky and Rex series by Howe
    • Cam Jansen series by Adler
    • Amelia Bedelia series by Peggy Parish
    • Miss Nelson series by Harry Allard
    • George and Martha series by James Marshall
    • Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts

    M leveled books include:

    • Magic Tree House series by Osbourne
    • Judy Moody and Stink series by McDonald
    • Bailey School Kids series by Dadey
    • Cobble Street Cousins series by Cynthia Rylant
    • Jigsaw Jones series by James Preller
    • Ivy and Bean series Annie Barrows
    • Flat Stanely series by Jeff Brown
    • Katie Kazoo Switcheroo series by Nancy Krulik

    N leveled books include:

    • My Father’s Dragon by Gannett
    • Donavan’s Word Jar by DeGross
    • Nora and Teddy and Russell series by Hurwitz
    • Amber Brown series by Paula Danziger
    • Franny K. Stein series by Jim Benton
    • Superhero series by Greg Trine
    • My Name is Maria Isabel by Ada
    • Meet Danitra Brown by Grimes
    • Julian series by Ann Cameron
    • Backyard Sports series by Teitelbaum
    • The Zack Files by Dan Greenburg
    • A to Z Mysteries by Roy

    O leveled books include:

    • The New Kid at School by McMullan
    • Ramona series by Beverly Cleary
    • Clementine series by Pennypacker
    • Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series by MacDonald
    • Meg Mackintosh series by Landon
    • Pippi Longstocking series by Astrid Lindgren
    • Boxcar Children series by Warner

    P Leveled books include:

    • Fantastic Mr. Fox by Dahl
    • Zooman Sam by Lowry
    • Wayside School series by Sachar
    • Stone Fox by Gardiner
    • Skinnybones by Park
    • Dragon Slayers’ Academy series by McMullan
    • Encyclopedia Brown series by Sobel
    • Time Warp Trio series by Scieszka

    Q leveled books include:

    • Anastasia Krupnik series by Lois Lowry
    • Fudge series by Blume
    • Bunnicula series by James Howe
    • Island series by Gordon Korman
    • Little House series by Wilder
    • Animal Ark series by Ben Baglio
    • The American Girl series (Felicity, Kirsten, Addy, Josephina, Samantha, Kit, Molly, and Julie books)

    R leveled books include:

    • Charlotte’s Web by White
    • Frindle and other books by Andrew Clements
    • Hatchet by Paulsen
    • Chet Gecko series by Bruce Hale
    • Sarah, Plain and Tall series by MacLachlan
    • The Whipping Boy by Fleischman
    • Hank Zipzer series by Henry Winkler
    • Midnight Fox by Byars

    S leveled books include:

    • Granny Torrelli Makes Soup by Creech
    • Project Mulberry by Park
    • The Penderwicks by Birdsall
    • Ida B by Hannigan
    • Sports books by Mike Lupica

    T leveled books include:

    • Baseball Card Adventure series by Dan Gutman
    • Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Kinney
    • Sammy Keyes series by Van Draanen
    • Bridge to Terebithia by Paterson
    • Chronicles of Narnia series by C. S. Lewis
    • Joey Pigza series by Jack Gantos

 

  • Level DRA 20, 24, 28 / K, L, M Books
  • Readers who choose to read a K, L, M leveled book will most likely find that the book has these characteristics:
    • A single story line spans the entire book
    • Story follows the traditional story structure where the character wants something and runs into problems and in the end the problems are resolved
    • Books tend to be short with chapter titles and picture support
    • Characters have a dominant trait such as Nate the Great is a great detective.
    • There will be two and three syllable words

    There will be subject specific vocabulary (a soccer story will include words like opponent and cleats)Level

  • DRA 30, 34, 38 / N, O, P Books 
  • Readers who choose to read a N, O, P leveled book will most likely find that the book has these characteristics:
    • Stories are more structurally complex and will contain subplots
    • The problem will evolve over time in the story
    • Characters will have multiple problems and have many personality traits
    • Reader will need to think about why a character does what they do because the author will not come right out and say
    • Reader will need to understand the idea of cause and effect as seen in the story

    Vocabulary will include puns, metaphors, and other figurative language

 

  • Level DRA 40 / Q,R,S,T Books 
    • Frindle by Andrew Clements
    • Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
    • From the Mixed Up Files of Ms. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg
    • Rules by Cynthia Lord
    • The Library Card by Jerry Spinelli
    • STAT: Standing Tall and Talented by Amar’e Stoudemire
    • Fourth Grade Fuss by Johanna Hurwitz
    • One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams Garcia
    • Esparanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan
    • Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly

Readers who choose to read a Q, R, S, T leveled book will most likely find that the book has these characteristics:

  • Stories are longer and have very limited illustrations
  • Stories become layered with meaning
  • Characters are complex and often the reader must infer what a character is feeling
  • Reader must follow an evolving plot line
  • Minor characters and subplots are also developing as the story unfolds
  • The setting is important to the story
  • Some chapters may appear confusing and the reader must read on to see if it becomes clearer

Please ask your student’s teacher for rubrics and checklists for opinion, information, and narrative writing for 4th grade: