Students will
1. | Pass out the instruction manuals you have gathered in advance of the lesson to groups of students (see Preparation, 1) and ask them to take five minutes to scan the manuals, focusing in particular on the characteristics they notice in the samples. |
2. | After five minutes, ask groups what they found in each manual. List the characteristics on a piece of chart paper and post it in the classroom for future reference. These characteristics may include logical sequence, enough detail for someone to read the directions and easily complete the activity, and the materials needed. |
3. | Explain to students that they are each going to be writing a similar instruction manual for the new fourth graders to use at the beginning of the next school year. Their writing prompt is how to succeed in the fourth grade. (You can easily modify this lesson for whatever grade you teach.) |
4. | Introduce the concept of audience. Discuss the audience of the students' essays and what students feel will be important for future fourth graders to know. They are now the fourth-grade experts. Discuss how their audience will not know any of the rules and procedures so their explanations will have to be very detailed. |
5. | As a prewriting activity, use an overhead projector and have students brainstorm a list of materials needed for the fourth grade. Students can then choose which materials are most important (maybe all) and include them on their . |
6. | On the overhead projector, make another list of the rules for fourth grade, and have students again choose the most important to include on their graphic organizers. |
7. | Using the overhead projector once again, ask students to brainstorm the steps for success in the fourth grade. Have each student choose the steps he or she feels are most important and to include them on the graphic organizer. |
Note: This prewriting activity allows students to work together to brainstorm ideas for their writing, but it also allows for each essay to be different, as students may choose different materials, rules, or steps for success in the fourth grade.
1. | Give students the . Discuss the expectations for the writing assignment as described on the rubric. Focus the discussion on how students can achieve a score of four in each category. |
2. | Model for students how to use the to help them organize the information from the . For example, information about the supplies or materials needed for fourth grade can comprise the first paragraph of the essay and should go in the box labeled . During this modeling, show students how to add detail and explanatory information that would be relevant for the audience of their essays. |
3. | Emphasize the importance of keeping the information organized in the map, because they will use it to write their first draft. You may instruct students to write one paragraph about the supplies needed in fourth grade, one paragraph about the rules for fourth grade, and one paragraph about how to succeed in the fourth grade. This organization makes best use of the information students recorded during the prewriting stage. |
4. | Have students fill in their own Essay Maps using the information from their graphic organizers. They should print their maps when they are finished. |
1. | Model for students how to use their printouts to begin drafting their rough drafts. Tell them to skip lines as they write their drafts to allow for revisions and proofreading marks. |
2. | Circulate while students are working to offer support and answer questions. |
1. | Begin this session by showing the . [You may also want to access the lesson to give students more practice with peer editing.] |
2. | Discuss how to work with a partner to help each other improve and revise the rough draft (i.e., make positive comments first, ask detailed questions, and accept your classmate's comments without becoming angry). |
3. | Have students work with a partner to review each other's rough drafts. Students should first switch papers to read silently. They can then use colored pencils to make comments and suggested changes. Make sure that students remember to discuss spelling, punctuation, and capitalization errors that they notice in each other's essays. They should also ensure that the essay includes the characteristics of how-to writing (as posted on the chart paper in Session 1) and is appropriate for the intended audience of future fourth graders. |
4. | Ask students to revise their essays based on the peer editing for homework. |
1. | Bring students to the computer lab to access the website. This site has grade-appropriate activities for students to practice their proofreading skills. |
2. | After students complete the practice activities online, they can begin proofreading their own essays using the . |
3. | After making appropriate corrections, students can prepare their final drafts. |
4. | As a reflection activity, discuss with students how they felt about this writing activity. Ask questions, such as: |
Students may choose a topic of interest to write another how-to essay. For example, students may choose to write instructions for how to play a board game or a sport that they enjoy.
Use the How-To Succeed in the Fourth Grade: Writing Rubric to assess students' writing.
This strategy guide explains the writing process and offers practical methods for applying it in your classroom to help students become proficient writers.
The Essay Map is an interactive graphic organizer that enables students to organize and outline their ideas for an informational, definitional, or descriptive essay.
Students examine the different ways that they write and think about the role writing plays in life.
When your child gets to fourth grade, they should already be familiar with writing prompts and how to go about answering them, but they will still need to practice. According to the Common Core State Standards Initiative, there are four basic writing prompts for fourth grade students : opinion pieces, informative or explanatory texts, narratives, and short research projects.
Opinion pieces require your child to think about how they feel about a certain idea or topic and back up their thoughts with facts and logical arguments. An example of an opinion prompt is something like this: Name one class, sport, or club you wish your school offered and explain why it should be available. To answer this, your child first has to come up with an activity and describe how it is beneficial to them or for students as a whole, then come up with a convincing argument on why it should be offered at their school.
For example, they may want to have a book club at their school. To be persuasive, they may explain that it would be helpful to students who love reading, but may not enjoy whatever books they are assigned in class. It would also allow for students to discuss their ideas and feelings about a book they are choosing, building their appreciation for reading in general. The essay would need to be well-organized, and although it may not be a convincing proposal, the ideas should be clearly stated and logical.
Informative essays are the most straightforward, where they have to introduce and detail something about a topic. An example of an informative essay would be something like this: Write about your favorite animal. Include interesting facts about this animal in your essay. To answer this, your child will have to pick an animal they like and write about it in detail. This would include things like their habitat, behavior, physical features, and any other facts about them.
For example, they may write about lions, describing their fur and manes, their habitat in the African savannah, how they hunt their prey, and how they raise their cubs. Organization is an important part of this essay; there shouldn’t just be a list of facts, but instead well-constructed paragraphs, like one for their description, one for their hunting behavior, and so on.
A narrative essay will be a story, either real or imagined, they have to tell clearly and with detail. An example of a narrative essay would be like this: If you were the president of the United States for a day, what would you do? To answer this prompt, they would likely detail a full day from start to finish, including a variety of activities that are relevant to this position of power. The things they would do don’t have to be particularly life-changing or politically logical, but they should follow a logical order and make sense for the president.
For example, they may write about how they would spend the morning meeting with all the leaders of the world, have a very fancy lunch in the White House, spend the afternoon making homework illegal, and then sleep in the biggest bed the White House has to offer. Again, these things don’t have to be super impactful, but they should make sense and be an organized story. Their response should include dialogue, such as themselves as the president talking to other leaders or their staff.
Research projects will require your child to consult sources like books, magazines, or online resources to find out about a topic and then report on it. An example of a research essay would be something like this: Choose a famous person from history or science and write about their lives and contributions. As the name suggests, this prompt requires your child to research a certain person and write about their life. The essay can be organized chronologically, like from this person’s birth, to their career and what they’re famous for, to their death or retirement.
Again, there should not just be a list of facts; your child should write about this person in full paragraphs. Something to keep in mind is that although it can be tempting for your child to Google their chosen person, they may not yet have the skills to know which online sources are legitimate or not. The best way for them to do research is through books or journals, with online sources there to help a bit.
The essential thing about all these prompts is they require a lot more detail and organization than your child has previously needed to give. If your child is having a hard time with their prompts, or with just one kind, a good idea is to enroll them in Reading Genie. At Reading Genie, the teachers provide a variety of engaging prompts for your child to practice writing and give helpful feedback. They will also have the opportunity to have peer reviews with their classmates, building their confidence while showing them where they need to improve.
These prompts can be a lot of fun for your child, even as they get more challenging. Feel free to discuss these topics with your child, or even write responses to the prompts with them. Practice is the best way for them to improve, and you can have fun with them!
Genie Academy offers a range of after-school educational activities for students, encompassing areas such as mathematics, reading, writing, and coding. Held at our New Jersey tutoring centers , our New Jersey writing tutoring program is specifically crafted for students from Pre-Kindergarten to 8th grade. Learn more about our writing tutoring classes in East Brunswick , writing tutoring classes in Hillsborough , writing tutoring classes in Marlboro , writing tutoring classes in South Brunswick , writing tutoring classes in Plainsboro , and writing tutoring classes in South Plainfield .
Source: https://www.thoughtco.com/writing-prompts-fourth-grade-4172492
Topics: Essay , Writing Skills , Fourth Grader , paragraph writing , Writing Prompt
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Kids in fourth grade are writing essays that are more complex than what they’ve written before. Typically, they’ll start with an introduction that gives a thesis. Then they’ll use detailed examples to support their points. Watch this video from Understood founding partner GreatSchools to see what else usually goes into a fourth-grade essay.
Persuasive writing prompts:, descriptive writing prompts:, informative writing prompts:, bonus prompts:, how to use 4th grade writing prompts in the classroom, we also recommend.
Writing is an essential skill that students need to develop at a young age. By providing them with interesting writing prompts, you can encourage creativity, critical thinking, and language development.
Are you looking for engaging and creative writing prompts for your 4th-grade students? Look no further! We have compiled a list of 50 exclusive writing prompts that are not only fun and exciting but also printable for free.
Whether you are a teacher looking for new writing prompts for your classroom or a parent wanting to support your child’s writing development, these 50 exclusive prompts will inspire and motivate young writers to express themselves and hone their writing skills. So, grab a pencil and paper, and let the creative writing begin!
Writing prompts offer a treasure trove of benefits for 4th graders, both in terms of academic development and personal growth. Here are some key advantages:
For the learner:
SEE ALSO: 15 Different Types of Tones in Writing: Must-Know Guide for All Writers
For the parent/teacher:
Writing helps stimulate and organize thoughts in 4th-grade children. They make them better off expressing whatever they have in their mind and feel a little less burdensome.
Let’s take a look at the different writing prompts for 4th-grade students:
Related Post: 107+ Creative Writing Prompts For Middle School Students
Read Also: 140 Exclusive Writing Prompts For Adults
Are you interested in learning how to write proposals? Read our article on Proposal Writing: 7 Steps to Writing the Perfect Proposal
Here’s how to utilize 4th Grade Writing Prompts in the Classroom
Tips for Teachers and Parents
Incorporating 4th-grade writing prompts into the learning journey is a dynamic and effective approach to enhancing writing skills. By encouraging creativity, developing specific writing abilities, and fostering critical thinking, these prompts play a pivotal role in shaping young writers. Whether in the classroom or at home, embracing the versatility of writing prompts contributes to a well-rounded and engaging writing education for 4th-grade students.
Writersgig review 2024: worth it for beginners .
Read Time 2 mins | January 14, 2021 | Written by: Kylene Reed
Now that the fourth graders have learned how to take notes, they began their research in the social studies classroom. Each student picked an animal found in one of the regions of Texas and completed their research to fill in their pillars.
Students then wrote their own introductions using the resources from Empowering Writers that are found in their writing journals and the modeled example as needed.
Next, we modeled writing the conclusion using: a hypothetical anecdote, informative verbs and main ideas, and a definitive word or phrase.
Here are a couple of students that I conferenced with today! I am extremely proud of their samples!
I cracked up almost the entire time I was working with this kiddo! His personality and humor came out in his writing. I loved the "razzle dazzle on over" that he used to get readers to want to read on!
This sample is from a student that is new to the district and Empowering Writers. While many of our students have had EW for the last couple of years, she just began instruction in the fall. While I conferenced with her, she new exactly what to do and what was needed each time I asked her a question!
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by: Jessica Kelmon | Updated: June 21, 2018
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In fourth grade, students are starting to prepare for middle school, when nonfiction writing is practiced in all subjects. What’s more, under the Common Core Standards, nonfiction writing is more and more essential to the curriculum. Learn more about your fourth grader’s writing under Common Core . According to the standards, students should be learning three types of writing:
Like a report, the purpose of this type of writing is to convey information accurately with facts, details, and supportive information.
These can be stories or screenplays or other fiction written in the first, second, or third person.
In opinion writing, students encourage readers to accept their opinion about something by writing what they and why.
John Cabot and the Rediscovery of North America
In this child’s report on John Cabot, you’ll see a few important features. First, there are five sections, each with a bolded header announcing what sort of information follows. Note that the fifth section is the bibliography, where everyone can see the two sources this student relied on for her information.
Type of writing: Informative/explanatory writing
Big Book of Evolution
Dylan’s report on evolution is also divided into sections. Note that Dylan uses visuals throughout this report. What’s more, the report has a table of contents at the beginning, and at the end, Dylan cites his sources for the written information and the visuals.
A Tale of Despereaux
This is a classic fourth grade book report. Note that the student uses headers to announce what type of information follows: the summary, the characters, and the writer’s recommendation about the book.
Zoos Should Close
This student writes an opinion piece about why she thinks zoos should close. Note that she cites multiple reasons with examples of why zoos aren’t good for animals. She also addresses a counterargument and refutes it, which isn’t actually required until seventh and eighth grade.
Type of writing: Opinion writing
See more examples of real kids’ writing in different grades: Kindergarten , first grade , second grade , third grade , fifth grade .
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Writing help stimulates and organize thoughts in children. They make them better off expressing whatever they have in their mind and feel a little less burdensome.
But, how do we inspire young children to write?
Writing Prompts are a perfect genesis for developing writing habits in kids. They brew creativity, vocabulary, a sense of expression and so much more in them.
Without much ado, let’s get straight to the list of 4th grade writing prompts.
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Here are more learning resources for your 4th grader to aid to their learning!
It is important to develop self-expression in kids, which can be made possible through regular journaling. For kids as young as 4th graders, journalling can boost the flow of ideas and spark reflective communication in them. Refer to the list of 4th grade journal prompts and get your students on a writing fling.
1. What is a secret dream of yours? What can you do now to reach it later in your life?
2. What kind of a friend do you think you are? List three things where you can improve and become a better friend.
3. What is one thing that your teacher does that you don’t like? How would you like her to do that instead?
4. What is your favorite thing about being in the class?
5. Recount the best picnic you had with friends. Where did you go? What part did you enjoy the most?
6. Make a list of 30 things that you love about your life.
7. Who is your inspiration and why?
8. If you are allowed to make a single wish, what would it be?
9. Write about your favorite hobbies
10. Write about the best gift you have received. What made you love it so much?
Somewhat similar to 4th-grade journal writing prompts, Descriptive prompts can be a great tap into creativity. When you want to keep your students busy with writing in a way that builds a love of details in them, here are the writing topics for 4th graders that you shouldn’t miss.
1. Write about 3 places that would like to travel to. Why and with whom?
2. Imagine your new classmate starts school today. What would you do to welcome them?
3. Describe a mistake you made and what you learned from it.
4. Your uncle overseas wants to know about your city. Write a letter to him describing your city- the famous monuments, eateries, parks, and more.
5. If you get to become a teacher for a day, which subjects will you teach and why?
6. Who inspires you in the family, and why?
7. Share your experience about a time when something unexpected happened.
8. Describe your favorite classmate. What is one more thing(s) that you would want to learn from him/her?
9. What is your favorite outfit? Why and where would you wear it?
10. You have found a lucky object. Share the little details about it.
What is life without fantasy and fiction? Precisely, nothing. Fiction is a powerful tool to pen down the flow of ideas without having to follow a particular format. It not only fuels creativity but improves writing skills and concentration. So, if you are planning to assay your student’s imaginative power, use these writing prompts for 4th grade.
1. Last night, you traveled into space. What did you see?
2. Put yourselves in the shoes of a mad scientist who just discovered a fruit. How does it look it? Narrate its journey from the innovative lab to the market.
3. In your favorite fairy tale, a prince decides to be a villain instead of a hero. Write the chain of events that unfold.
4. One day, you wake up to see that your elder brother has been turned into a horse by an evil witch. Build a story around the scenario.
5. On a lonely stormy night…Continue the story.
6. You have acquired a superpower to turn invisible whenever you like. Narrate the events of how and where you would use this superpower.
7. You were transported into the last story you read. Where are you? How would the story change with your presence?
8. Imagine you got a chance to climb up the ladder to the clouds. Write what you see there.
9. You woke up to find out that you have grown wings. How would your life change?
10. “Do not be angry” I told myself. But, as I looked down… Complete a story.
Supporting critical thinking and vision, Opinion writing prompts can be instrumental in shaping the thought process in young minds. More often than not, even the senior students are not aware of how many strong opinions they hold. Therefore, it becomes crucial to let kids practice how to present their arguments in their development years. Here’s a list of opinion writing prompts for 4th grade to kickstart their writing journey.
1. Should recess time be longer in schools? Why, or why not?
2. Should 4th graders receive pocket money from their parents? Why, or why not?
3. Share the best pizza eatery in your town. Why do you think it’s the best?
4. With the annual function coming up, your school wants to invite a famous personality to deliver an inspirational speech or presentation. Who do you think will be the best fit?
5. Would you rather be a class topper, a fine artist, or an excellent sportsperson?
6. Do you think smoking should be banned? Why, or why not?
7. Share your opinion on students bringing a cell phone to school.
8. Should everyone exercise every day? Share your opinion.
9. If you were to plan the school lunch menu, what will you include?
10. Is homework a good practice for learning? What do you think?
Do you see your kids getting bored of writing on general topics? Don’t worry, refer to our list of fun writing prompts for 4th grade! Funny Writing Prompts are a great icebreaker to stir up the imagination and interest in students. Moreover, teachers can let students read aloud their fun stories in class. Get ready for a giggle-packed writing period with writing prompts for 4th grade!
1. Your homework was eaten by a dog. Write a story to convince your teacher.
2. Write a story using 5 words: funny, bird, sleep, guitar and pajamas.
3. Imagine you woke up and saw a giant sleeping next to you. Narrate the story.
4. Create a story where chocolate cake is the main character.
5. The rabbit jumped on the moon and the dish ran away with the spoon. Build a humorous story.
6. Imagine your best friend cannot stop sneezing and farting throughout the day. What do you think the day would look like to him?
7. Imagine someone cast a spell on your mother. She could talk nothing but only meow. How would your life change? What can you do to break the spell?
8. Everyone around you turns into a robot. How would you spend your day?
9. What would happen if you ate a cookie and became a dwarf? Narrate the scenario.
10. I never thought my cat would laugh… Continue the story.
The essence of Informative Writing prompts lies in how well students can convey particulars about an object, a personality, or an event to the readers. As much as they improve their writing skills, the prompts compel the young minds to think critically, and fetch cues from their memory and learning.
Check out the writing ideas for 4th grade kids on the list to make your work a little easier!
1. Write the importance of water in our lives. How can we save water?
2. What are traditions? Which one do you like the most and hate the most in your family?
3. Imagine you are a city tour guide. What are the best places to visit in your city?
4. What is the most interesting book you have ever read? Write a book review.
5. Write a ‘how to play’ guide for your favorite game.
6. Recollect the times you were in quarantine. Write an interesting story about how you overcame tough times.
7. How should we take care of our younger siblings?
8. You are at a farm with your family. Write all that you see around you.
9. Imagine you just experienced an earthquake. What was the first thing you did? Narrate the details.
10. You have become a store manager for a day. Write about all the responsibilities and tasks that you undertook throughout the day.
We all agree that animals fit naturally into our stories. That’s because humans share an unbreakable bond with animals. So, why not have a writing session that features animals? This will surely infuse some excitement and divergent thinking in the classroom . Here’s some animal creative writing prompt for 4th graders!
1. Write some interesting facts that you know about animals.
2. How would it be if you woke up doing ‘meow meow’ one morning? Write a story.
3. Imagine dinosaurs taking over the world. What do they make humans do?
4. What if you are in a forest and a lion starts talking to you? What would the conversation be like?
5. If you were allowed to pet 5 animals, which one will you choose and why?
6. ‘A camel was walking in the desert but suddenly…’ Construct an interesting story.
7. Write a story about the friendship of a pigeon and squirrel living on the same tree.
8. Imagine you are swimming in the Indian Ocean and a shark arrives. What will you do?
9. Is the zoo a good place for animals? Why, or why not?
10. If you could have a superpower to turn into any animal, which animal would you become to save a girl who’s been kidnapped? Why?
In a world where classic literature has been lost under social media slang, poetry is still a breath of fresh air. Moreover, poems for kids can be really helpful in improving creative writing skills. They not only learn the real rules of literature and grammar but find joy in expressing themselves. Jump into the poetic world with these 4th grade writing prompts.
1. Write poetry about your first day in 4th grade.
2. Write a haiku about your favorite ice cream.
3. ‘Silvery sweet sound’… Continue the poem.
4. ‘There was once a wise man who told me’. Write a limerick using this line.
5. ‘I met a funny little man…’ Write an interesting poem.
6. Write poetry about Mother Earth.
7. ‘When the winter snow begins to fade…’ Continue the poem.
8. ‘The story is strange, as you will see, The weirdest thing ever happened to me.’’ Write a poem to describe the weirdest scenario you have been in.
9. ‘I woke up one morning with a mermaid tale’. Write a poem.
10. ‘Snow slips down swiftly’. Write a haiku.
One of the widely practiced 4th grade writing prompts, Narrative writing is all about expressions and stories. It encompasses the beginning, middle, and end of a narrative. Whether it’s a personal incident or a fact or a fiction, it’s sure to spark a joy of creativity in young ones. Here are some ideas that you can use as 4th grade narrative writing prompts.
1. Suppose you become a school principal for a day. Write about what changes you will make in the school.
2. You have to describe your family members to someone who has never met them before. How will you do it?
3. If you had a chance to keep an extra chair at the dining table tonight, whom would you invite and why?
4. What is your favorite memory from 3rd grade? Share details about it.
5. What is one thing that makes you feel sad? How do you overcome this sadness?
6. Write about your favorite holiday meal.
7. When did you score poorly on a test? What did your parents say?
8. Write about your experience at a summer camp. Would you go this year again?
9. If given a chance to visit another planet, where would you go and why?
10. This year my goals are… Write about what all you want to achieve by the end of the year.
Just as adults need an outlet to express their bubbling emotions, so do kids! Journalling is a powerful tool, facilitating reflection and critical thought. While journalling might be a difficult step for most kids, writing prompts can support their creative outlet. It can aid them in expanding their own ideas, articulating their feelings, and boosting their confidence. Look at some interesting fourth grade journal prompts that kids will love!
1. Write a letter to your 15-year-old self.
2. What are 10 things you and your best friend are good at?
3. Describe your favorite time of the year. What activities do you do during this time? Who do you spend it with?
4. Imagine you found a genie who promises to grant you 3 wishes. What wishes would you make?
5. Write about a time you felt a strong emotion- be it happiness, sadness, anger, etc. What made you feel that way? What did you do to control it?
6. Suppose it is your mother’s birthday next week. How can you make it memorable for her? What planning will you do?
7. Do you know about your strengths and weaknesses? Write 5 each.
8. You have to thank 10 people today. Who will be on your list? How will you be thankful to them?
9. When someone compliments you, how do you respond to it?
10. Write about all the times you have felt happy in the last week.
When it comes to giving a creative push to 4th graders, there can be nothing better than writing prompts. Since young students face more hurdles in following a structural approach to writing, prompts can help kids relieve that pressure. Consequently, they can enjoy flexibility in writing, allowing more room for creativity and imagination.
While kids may benefit immensely from writing prompts, it cannot be made possible without a mentor’s encouragement and support. Here are some of the creative ideas around 4th grade writing prompts that you can explore with kids:
The above list is not exhaustive, and there’s always enough room for creativity.
To ease things for you, here are three steps you can consider while using writing prompts:
Step #1: Introduce the statement or topic to the students to steer the creative writing ship
Step #2: Encourage students to make a personal connection with the prompt given, and brainstorm the key points with them
Step #3: Convey the purpose of the writing assignment- an essay, a paragraph, or any other form of writing. Instruct the students using sufficient information to better equip them with writing cues.
Young kids need support to build writing skills as much as adults do. Writing prompts can be a perfect anchor to get set kids on a writing spree. We hope the above 4th grade writing prompts can serve the enjoyment and purpose of your class! Good Luck!
How can i improve my child’s writing skills using elementary prompts.
It is imperative to build focus in kids as young as 4th graders. Unfocused writing can become troublesome for them in the future. To improve focus, emphasize using basic prompts that encompass their favorite things- toy, place, picnic memory, cup, etc. Make a list of all that they like and ask them to write small details about them. Let them practice these as much as they want. This way, sticking to a single topic, will surely help them stay clear and focused until they start with longer essays.
Writing prompts are in themselves a great tool to help teachers and parents measure the progress of the kid. The best way to see whether the kid has improved or not is to let them practice with the elementary prompts daily. You must skim through them, and politely pinpoint the grammatical or punctuation errors.
However, do not be too harsh on them while communicating their mistakes to them. Remember, all good things take time! Moreover, do not compare your child’s progress to any other child. All children have different capacities and speeds to grasp things. Target steady growth!
There are endless possibilities to creatively support the use of 4th grade journal prompts. You can divide the students into small groups and pin a challenge of writing prompts between them. Furthermore, teachers can make use of attractive resources like flashcards, worksheets, etc. to add a spark of enthusiasm and fun to the class.
Since little appreciation and kind words go a long way, you can keep exciting rewards for the kids who perform exceptionally. There’s so much that you can do to unleash the creative side of your 4th graders.
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Looking for a five-paragraph essay example? Look and listen in as a fourth grade teacher models this strong writing structure for her students.
As our favorite fourth grade teacher graded her class’s latest paragraphs, she let out a satisfied sigh. First they tackled paragraph structure. Then they learned to elaborate. Additionally, they improved their writing by varying sentences and using transitions. Now that they had the writing strategies down, her kids were ready to scaffold from one paragraph to the five-paragraph essay .
Purposefully tackling each genre of writing – then scaffolding from shorter to longer – was sure to work for her.
Ms. Sneed turned and opened her laptop. With just a few clicks, she found it. Her favorite prompt, You Should Try It , asked kids to persuade others to try an activity – in five paragraphs.
The following Monday, Ms. Sneed stood in front of her class. “Today,” she said, “you will learn how to write a longer essay.”
Several kids looked a little unsure, but their teacher continued. “For now, I’ll take you through a five-paragraph essay example. That should ease your concerns.”
Ms. Sneed projected a sample. “The first paragraph, or introduction, includes a thesis statement and supportive factual reasons.”
With the mention of a new term, thesis statement , more kids looked uncomfortable. Some squirmed in their seats.
“Now I know the term thesis statement is new, but no worries! You know it as a topic sentence. However, the thesis is the main idea of a multi-paragraph composition.”
The teacher read the paragraph aloud. “Can anyone pick out the thesis for this persuasive essay?” she asked.
One student slowly raised his hand. “Wouldn’t you like to try water skiing?”
“Yes! Although it’s written as a question, this sentence offers an opinion. Furthermore, the entire essay supports this thesis. Can you find the author’s three supporting reasons?”
Using the five-paragraph essay example, the class soon established the supporting details too: improving health, impressing friends, and teaching them to ski.
“Now let’s look at the second paragraph,” Ms. Sneed said.
“You identified one of the main details as health. As you can see, this paragraph expands on that reason.”
“That’s just what we were doing with one paragraph,” piped up a girl in the back row.
“Um-hm. True. But writing in five paragraphs gives you more room to elaborate.”
The kids seemed to relax in their seats. This wasn’t so bad after all.
With no further ado, she pulled up the third paragraph. “See, paragraph #3 discusses the second main supportive detail.”
After they read the paragraph aloud, Ms. Sneed asked, “Who can find the topic sentence of this paragraph?”
“Isn’t it the first sentence?” said a boy with purple glasses.
Ms. Sneed nodded. “Easy peasy. The main idea of this paragraph, as we said before, is the second reason.”
For the fourth paragraph, Ms. Sneed tried a new tactic. “Okay, think-pair-share! Find the the topic sentences and smaller details that support it.” Her students knew what this meant. Immediately, they turned to their seat partners and began to discuss.
After a few minutes, groups began to share:
“The first sentence is the topic sentence again,” said the first spokesperson.
“And the details are the steps in teaching,” said the second.
“Ahh, a sequence paragraph inside a five-paragraph persuasive essay,” Ms. Sneed remarked. That famous teacher smile spread across her face.
“Here we have the final paragraph, or conclusion,” the teacher continued.
After she read the paragraph aloud, Ms. Sneed pointed out the restated thesis statement and details. “It’s a repeat of the first paragraph in different words.”
Quickly, strode toward the board. She picked up a marker and sketched a hamburger with three patties. “Does this look familiar?”
Everyone smiled and nodded. Ms. Sneed’s favorite analogy for an writing a paragraph !
“We just used this again,” their teacher said. “The top bun is the first paragraph. It introduces the main idea with a thesis statement and supporting details. The first hamburger patty explores the first detail; the second, the second; and the third, the third! Finally, the bottom bun wraps it all up with a restatement of the thesis and details. This helps you write, as well as find the main idea and supporting details .”
“It’s just a giant version of the paragraph,” said a small girl in the front corner.
“Yep,” replied Ms. Sneed. “Not hard at all – if you know what you’re doing. Over the next few months, we’ll write more of these essays in our ELA block . Then you’ll feel even more confident.”
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Brilliant ideas from brilliant teachers (like you).
Are you new to teaching fourth grade and looking for inspo? Or have you been doing this for a while and you’re looking for ways to revamp what you’re already doing? We’ve got you! We’ve looked through our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook and the web for some of the best tips for teaching fourth grade. We’ve organized the list by topic to make it easy to cruise for ideas. Let’s do this!
1. classroom setup.
Need ideas to make sure your classroom is ready for your students? Here’s an excerpt from the book Responsive Classroom: What Every 4th Grade Teacher Needs To Know About Setting Up and Running a Classroom.
Long gone are the days of straight rows of desks lining the classroom. Throw out your seating chart and try one of these ideas instead .
Teaching fourth grade involves a lot of reading! Here is a big list of our favorites.
Have you ever heard of or tried interactive bulletin boards? Here’s an article from Brittany Jeltema and her tips for bulletin boards students can use . Plus, here are our favorite interactive bulletin boards for inspiration.
Teacher planning and prep time are precious! It makes life a lot easier when you can purchase existing lessons, bundles, books, and pages. And why not support other teachers while you do it? Check out our favorite Teacher Pay Teachers sellers for fourth grade.
6. introduce yourself creatively.
Make day one memorable by introducing yourself in a creative way, such as sending postcards over the summer. Here are our favorite creative teacher introduction ideas .
We love this start-of-the-year activity from Write On, Fourth Grade ! Start by reading Big Plans by Bob Shea and Lane Smith. Then on construction paper, have students create their own plans for fourth grade, for their school career, and for adulthood. Hang ’em up and label the wall “Our Big Plans”!
Have you ever heard the phrase “a goal without a plan is just a wish”? Let’s support our students in turning their wishes into actions with this goal-setting activity.
Download free and kid-centric anti-bullying printables from Kid Pointz to help your students understand the importance of avoiding peer pressure and handling bullies constructively. Plus check out our anti-bullying videos and anti-bullying books to share with your students.
“I also went to the dollar store and got these cute little ‘pledge’ cards that kids can sign at the beginning of the year to pledge that they won’t bully each other and will report bullying when they see it. It’s a great way to start the year!” —Jen B.
Print these free, downloadable classroom posters to remind your students that kindness matters most of all.
Teaching fourth grade means building SEL skills. Use these SEL read-alouds to talk about everything from kindness to courage to trying your best.
Here are some creative classroom job ideas from our teacher community: tech support, environmental support, organizer, textbook coordinator, sanitation engineer, librarian, substitute, chief in charge, messenger, paper passer, supply clerk, IT technician, human resources officer, administrative assistant, waste management. Plus check out these creative classroom job charts .
Friendships are important to fourth graders. Help them figure out friendships and form new ones with these friendship videos and books about friendship .
At the beginning of the year, have students write down their thoughts, expectations, goals, feelings, and predictions. Put them all in a decorated jar, seal it up, and then read them all in the last week of school.
We love this kid-friendly version of a teacher’s lesson plans . Put day-specific “Today I am …,” “So that I can …,” and “I’ll know I’ve got it if …” posters on your board.
Instead, engage your fourth graders with:
Check out our top fourth grade anchor charts for inspiration.
Learning for Justice is a website that offers free educational resources for all grade levels in order to engage and focus our learners and ourselves in community, collective action, and social justice. Bookmark this website so you have it all year long.
19. incorporate daily writing prompts.
We’ve gathered a big list of fourth grade writing prompts that you can download and use to have your students practice their writing skills.
Let color work its inspiration for your fourth grade poets . Check out other educational uses for paint chips here!
We like this one from Write On, Fourth Grade !
Practice applying the definitions by reading passages in class and asking students to identify the difference between tone and mood in each passage. Check out this helpful tone and mood anchor chart .
We love this context clues anchor chart .
Take sentences from your class’s current text that use figurative language and have students (literally!) illustrate and explain the difference in the literal and figurative meanings of the expressions.
Use RAFTs, try Vocabulary Jeopardy, and more with these vocabulary activities .
Speaking of vocabulary, when teaching fourth grade, show students how to grow their vocabulary by spending time finding just the right word for their essay or story. Check out all the options for classroom thesauruses .
27. practice math skills with the most mathematical icebreaker ever.
This is a great first-day-of-school activity that doubles as both an icebreaker and a math review of last year’s skills. Students create a poster of math equations representing different aspects of who they are, and then they can get to know each other by solving the problems. Bonus: You’ll have instant wall art for Back-to-School Night! From Fourth Grade Fun in Florida .
Being able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide quickly and accurately will serve your fourth graders well. Spend some time each day practicing math facts with these effective teaching strategies .
Check out all of these fantastic free math card games for fourth graders .
How fun is this robot ? Students apply their understanding of area and perimeter by creating different robots based on mathematical specifications provided to them. Buy a TPT robot lesson of your own.
If it’s not math fluency, it’s fractions. The better understanding fourth graders have of fractions, the better off they’ll be when the quantities get more complicated or the operations get sophisticated. We really love this pool noodle fractions hack for teaching fourth grade.
Use these word problem activities and strategies .
33. get hands-on with science.
Science is the perfect subject for kids to get down and dirty. Try these fourth grade science projects for inspiration.
These STEM challenges are designed with your fourth graders in mind. Try one each day or each week to get their minds thinking outside the box.
Plant life cycle is always a fun science unit. You get to talk about growing, planting, and nature. Plus, students love digging in and getting their hands dirty when they plant seeds themselves. Here are our favorite activities for teaching plant life cycles .
Learn about specific animals and how climate change, conservation, and people’s decisions impact their lives. The World Wildlife Fund has lessons on animals from polar bears to monarch butterflies.
It’s electrifyingly good fun! Shock them with these electricity science experiments !
Ready to explore animal habitats around the world, from rain forests to deserts and everything in between? These fun animal habitat activities are just what you’re looking for. Take a walk on the wild side!
39. try social studies inquiry circles.
Address the required standards through inquiry-based learning. Here’s an inquiry-based learning how-to guide from the One Stop Teacher Shop. Watch your kids sink their teeth into the “thick versus thin” concept, and the Work Plan Form will help students take control of their own learning.
Here is a list of the Best Social Justice Books for Kids of All Ages ! Reminder: Books don’t have to be brand-new to be valuable. Check out your local library and Facebook groups, or buy used to save some bills.
Learn about ALL people by including LGBTQ+ inclusive books in your social studies lessons.
Read biographies about famous people in history. Match books to holidays, like Presidents’ Day or Black History Month.
Source: @jeffevansmagic
Teach your fourth graders how to bring a big project together by taking on a school assembly. Plan the assembly from start to finish; here are ideas to get you started.
There are some amazing websites out there for teaching social studies lessons. Check out this big list of our favorites .
The independence of 9- and 10-year-olds, coupled with grade-level focus on their state, makes for lots of fantastic options for fourth grade field trips .
46. check homework three ways.
Having centers, or workstations, in your fourth grade classroom allows students to work independently.
“When introducing a new independent activity, I usually do it in small groups first, so when put in the independent stations, they are able to do it without my help.” — Carol V.
“I have center folders that students keep their work in, and at the end of the cycle of centers, I grade the work as 100, 80, or 60 based upon what’s done and the quality. I give one center grade for each cycle.” — Gary F.
It’s likely that some of your fourth graders will have accommodations or modifications that you’re in charge of. One way to make sure you’re providing students with their accommodations is to make a note of which accommodations they need by their name on a discussion or participation tracker . This will help you feel confident that you’re helping each student access learning, and allow you to contribute insights at the IEP meeting.
49. quietly redirect.
Looking for a way to redirect your students without making it “a thing”? Hand one of these to a student who needs a reminder to focus and you’ll be in the clear. Just be sure to explain the why and how of this activity before you hand out your first one! Here are free printables from Rock and Teach , or make a more discrete design yourself on PowerPoint, Google Slides, or with just paper and a Sharpie.
When teaching fourth grade, you can show your students how to express what matters most to them by illustrating and writing in these heart maps. Download a free template from Fourth Grade Lemonade .
We love this idea of leaving positive sticky notes for kids every day to encourage them and let them know you’re behind them 100%!
Fourth graders are at the start of learning to do things independently, like really independently. Support students’ executive functioning skills, those skills that will help them manage classwork and organization throughout their lives, starting now. Check out the executive functioning skills that kids should learn in elementary school and how to teach executive functioning . Also, learn what it feels like to struggle with executive functioning in fourth grade .
Try this classroom job board idea from Teach Create Motivate . Roll out classroom jobs, or add new ones by posting a job board and having students apply for jobs. Students will get important practice in writing skills and managing the feelings around getting or not getting the job they want.
54. have a sense of humor.
Teaching fourth grade requires a sense of humor, both for yourself and your students. Poetry from Shel Silverstein and Jack Prelutsky hit right at fourth graders’ funny bones. Or try one of our fourth grade jokes to start the day .
Here are 10 tips to make working with parents the easiest part of your job.
Innovative ways to redesign your classroom. Continue Reading
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These strategies for teaching fourth grade writing include using picture books to teach summarizing and story writing skills, highlighting and note taking for expository writing, using graphic organizers to plan writing and peer editing and rubrics to fine tune writing.
Sometimes, students don’t realize what a story sounds like. By the time students are in fourth grade, it’s plausible they’ve read quite a few picture books. Yet, have they ever examined the elements of a picture book? How does the story start? What is dialogue? Who are the characters? What is the problem in the story and how is it resolved? These are all questions that should be asked prior to reading a picture book. As the teacher reads the tale, he or she should stop every two pages and try to answer at least one of the above questions.
Picture books are also wonderful for teaching kids to summarize. Pick shorter children’s books with a clear protagonist, antagonist, conflict, rising action, climax and resolution. After each page, write down the main events. After reading, students can write a summary.
Many times, students will learn how to write a descriptive paragraph and then to write a story. These two topics are not separate entities but rather should be incorporated. Learning to use sensory details in a narrative is a vital part of the writing process.
Two Bad Ants by Chris Van Allsburg is a great book to teach description. Two curious ants go inside a home and get left behind. Through exploring the house, they come across items like toasters, sugar and a garbage disposal. Yet, the author never says the location of the ants. Rather, he describes the toaster so vividly that the reader knows it is a toaster.
Elbert’s Bad Word by Audrey Wood is another good book to teach “show not tell.” Elbert, a little boy, says a bad word. We never know what the bad word is, yet, the reader knows it is a curse word based on the descriptive language.
After reading these books, students can practice describing an item, setting or character in detail. Later, this description can be used in a narrative.
The types of graphic organizers are limitless. Some graphic organizers can look boring. Thus, instead of a basic story map, have kids draw a mountain or a roller coaster track. At the bottom, have them jot down a few notes about their setting and main characters. The conflict should be written at the bottom of the mountain or coaster. Then, have them write about five main events on the mountain slope. At the peak of the mountain should be the climax. On the other side of the mountain is resolution and falling action.
Sandwich graphic organizers will be a hit with any fourth grade class. Kids can construct a favorite sandwich out of construction paper. They need to have two pieces of bread and three fillings. The bread of the sandwich can be used to note a topic sentence and conclusion sentence. The filling can be the backdrop for three supporting details. Staple the sandwiches together and kids can use it to write an informational paragraph. This graphic organizer can also be used to help kids write a nonfiction or expository summary.
Using graphic organizers for writing is essential for prewriting, organizing ideas and brainstorming. A simple cluster map is perfect for brainstorming. Use one for each character in a story. Have children make one large circle in the center and five to six small circles stemming from the center circle. In the center circle, write the name of the character and whether or not it is a protagonist or antagonist. In the surrounding circles, students should write down character traits such as physical appearance, personality traits, and other important ideas about that person.
Instead of circle clusters, kids can make flowers with a main idea in the center and supporting ideas on the petals. Using a spider to plan a story about Halloween is also a fun idea. The setting can be on the body of the spider with the sensory details on its legs. Another idea for example, is to plan an informational report about the sun on a sun graphic organizer. The possibilities for kids to make unique graphic organizers are endless.
Rubrics and checklists are a helpful way to help students gauge if they are going in the right direction. For a summary of expository, a rubric should include the following:
For a narrative, a rubric would be very different. It would include a checklist similar to this:
Rubrics are often used for grading writing. If students become accustomed to using a rubric while writing, then they will start recognizing how their stories and summaries are graded. Often times, rubrics use a point system. A four may be given for excellent work, a three for good work, a two for satisfactory work and a one if their work needs improvement. When creating a rubric , it is important to keep it simple and focus on the key elements you want students to master.
Rubrics can be used with peer editing. Peer editing can be done in pairs or in a group. In pairs, students can exchange papers and use a pen to circle possible misspelled words and look for errors in punctuation. At the end of the work, peer editors can write down three praises and three suggestions to help improve their partner’s writing.
In a group, students can read their stories orally. This needs to be done in an environment where respect and trust has been formed. As students read their writings aloud, they may notice places where they need to make changes. Each student in the group should write down praises and suggestions too.
Peer editing needs to be modeled. Doing a lesson on peer editing will be helpful.
In summary, students will enjoy writing more if it is fun. Using these writing strategies will help your fourth grade students understand the writing process and provide them with the tools to become successful novice writers.
Van Allsburg, Chris. Two Bad Ants. Houghton Mifflin Books for Children: New York, 1988.
Wood, Audrey. Elbert’s Bad Word . Harcourt Brace: Singapore, 1988.
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Ai generator.
Grade 4 is a pivotal year in a student’s literary journey, with personification playing a starring role. This expressive literary device breathes life into the inanimate, making stories more relatable and vivid for young readers. As fourth graders stand on the cusp of deepening their understanding of the written word, introducing personification becomes essential. Dive into captivating personification examples , learn the art of crafting personified sentences, and arm yourself with valuable tips to make personification a Grade 4 favorite.
For 4th graders, personification is a literary tool where objects, animals, or ideas are given human qualities or actions. It’s like imagining if your pencil could complain about being overworked or if the sun smiled down at you. This technique makes reading more engaging and helps young readers visualize and connect with the story on a deeper level.
One of the most memorable examples for Grade 4 could be: “The wind whispered secrets through the trees.” In this sentence, the wind, which doesn’t have a voice, is given the human ability to whisper, making the scene more vivid and relatable for fourth graders.
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Delve into the imaginative realm of personification with these handpicked examples designed for 4th graders. As objects take on human traits and nature starts to narrate its own tales, young readers are bound to be enthralled. Each of these examples is a doorway to understanding literature in richer hues, making words dance off the pages in resonant cadence.
Wildlife around us seems to have its own tales and emotions. Through personification, Grade 4 students can imagine and connect deeply with the wilderness. Here’s how nature seems to speak.
Poetry breathes life into words, making them move and feel. For Grade 4 pupils, these examples illustrate how poems turn the mundane into something magical through personification.
Animals, with their diverse behaviors, are perfect subjects for personification. Here’s a list to help Grade 4 students envision animals with human-like attributes and emotions.
Classic literature is a treasure trove of personification, helping to create vivid images. Here are examples to enrich the Grade 4 literary experience.
Enhancing reading comprehension involves diving deeper into the text. These personification examples illuminate the text, making it more relatable for Grade 4 students.
Ten-year-olds view the world with unique wonder and understanding. These personification examples are tailored to resonate with their vibrant imaginations.
Grade 4 stands as a pivotal year in a student’s educational journey. Not only are they more advanced in reading and comprehension, but their cognitive abilities also have expanded to grasp deeper concepts. Here’s why it’s the perfect time:
How to Write a Personification for Grade 4?
Teaching fourth graders to craft personification requires a blend of imagination, practical examples, and interactive activities. Here’s a step-by-step approach to ensure their success:
Introduce the Concept :
Engage with Visuals :
Use illustrations or videos that represent the concept. For instance, show a picture of trees swaying and discuss how they might be ‘dancing’ or ‘waving’.
Prompt Them to Think :
Encourage students to look around the room and pick an object. Ask them to think about what human trait or emotion that object might have.
Start with Guided Practice :
Use fill-in-the-blank sentences: “The ______ (object) ______ (human action/emotion).”
For example: “The ______ (book) ______ (sighed) as it was left open on the table.”
Encourage Creativity :
Have students write short stories or poems where the main character is a personified object. This not only strengthens their understanding of personification but also enhances their narrative skills.
Use Relatable Scenarios :
Base prompts on scenarios they understand. For example: “Imagine your favorite toy came to life. How would it feel about being played with or left alone?”
Interactive Group Activities :
Organize group sessions where students collectively personify an object. Each student can add a sentence, building a shared narrative.
Reinforce with Feedback :
Review their attempts and provide constructive feedback. Highlight where they’ve used personification effectively and suggest improvements where needed.
Incorporate Multisensory Learning :
Combine writing with other sensory engagements. For instance, let them listen to the sound of rain and then personify it. Or let them touch different textures and then describe them using personification.
Celebrate and Share :
Once students have crafted their personifications, let them share their sentences or stories with the class. This encourages peer learning and showcases the various ways personification can be approached.
Continuous Practice :
Like all skills, the more they practice, the better they’ll get. Regularly integrate personification exercises into their daily writing tasks.
By following this detailed approach, fourth graders will not only understand the concept of personification but will also be equipped to use it effectively in their writing.
Personification isn’t just a literary device; it’s a tool for vocabulary expansion:
Text prompt
10 Examples of Public speaking
20 Examples of Gas lighting
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Scaled score conversion tables for schools and local authorities to use for the 2024 national curriculum tests.
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A scaled score between 100 and 120 shows the pupil has met the expected standard in the test. The lowest scaled score that can be awarded on a KS2 test is 80. The highest score is 120.
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The telltale words that could identify generative ai text, new paper counts "excess words" that started appearing more often in the post-llm era..
Kyle Orland - Jul 1, 2024 11:30 am UTC
To measure these vocabulary changes, the researchers analyzed 14 million paper abstracts published on PubMed between 2010 and 2024, tracking the relative frequency of each word as it appeared across each year. They then compared the expected frequency of those words (based on the pre-2023 trendline) to the actual frequency of those words in abstracts from 2023 and 2024, when LLMs were in widespread use.
The results found a number of words that were extremely uncommon in these scientific abstracts before 2023 that suddenly surged in popularity after LLMs were introduced. The word "delves," for instance, shows up in 25 times as many 2024 papers as the pre-LLM trend would expect; words like "showcasing" and "underscores" increased in usage by nine times as well. Other previously common words became notably more common in post-LLM abstracts: the frequency of "potential" increased 4.1 percentage points; "findings" by 2.7 percentage points; and "crucial" by 2.6 percentage points, for instance.
These kinds of changes in word use could happen independently of LLM usage, of course—the natural evolution of language means words sometimes go in and out of style. However, the researchers found that, in the pre-LLM era, such massive and sudden year-over-year increases were only seen for words related to major world health events: "ebola" in 2015; "zika" in 2017; and words like "coronavirus," "lockdown" and "pandemic" in the 2020 to 2022 period.
In the post-LLM period, though, the researchers found hundreds of words with sudden, pronounced increases in scientific usage that had no common link to world events. In fact, while the excess words during the COVID pandemic were overwhelmingly nouns, the researchers found that the words with a post-LLM frequency bump were overwhelmingly "style words" like verbs, adjectives, and adverbs (a small sampling: "across, additionally, comprehensive, crucial, enhancing, exhibited, insights, notably, particularly, within").
This isn't a completely new finding—the increased prevalence of "delve" in scientific papers has been widely noted in the recent past , for instance. But previous studies generally relied on comparisons with "ground truth" human writing samples or lists of pre-defined LLM markers obtained from outside the study. Here, the pre-2023 set of abstracts acts as its own effective control group to show how vocabulary choice has changed overall in the post-LLM era.
By highlighting hundreds of so-called "marker words" that became significantly more common in the post-LLM era, the telltale signs of LLM use can sometimes be easy to pick out. Take this example abstract line called out by the researchers, with the marker words highlighted: "A comprehensive grasp of the intricate interplay between [...] and [...] is pivotal for effective therapeutic strategies."
After doing some statistical measures of marker word appearance across individual papers, the researchers estimate that at least 10 percent of the post-2022 papers in the PubMed corpus were written with at least some LLM assistance. The number could be even higher, the researchers say, because their set could be missing LLM-assisted abstracts that don't include any of the marker words they identified.
Those measured percentages can vary a lot across different subsets of papers, too. The researchers found that papers authored in countries like China, South Korea, and Taiwan showed LLM marker words 15 percent of the time, suggesting "LLMs might... help non-natives with editing English texts, which could justify their extensive use." On the other hand, the researchers offer that native English speakers "may [just] be better at noticing and actively removing unnatural style words from LLM outputs," thus hiding their LLM usage from this kind of analysis.
Detecting LLM use is important, the researchers note, because "LLMs are infamous for making up references, providing inaccurate summaries, and making false claims that sound authoritative and convincing." But as knowledge of LLMs' telltale marker words starts to spread, human editors may get better at taking those words out of generated text before it's shared with the world.
Who knows, maybe future large language models will do this kind of frequency analysis themselves, lowering the weight of marker words to better mask their outputs as human-like. Before long, we may need to call in some Blade Runners to pick out the generative AI text hiding in our midst.
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By Julia Angwin
Ms. Angwin is a contributing Opinion writer and an investigative journalist.
On my way to Kennedy International Airport, I grip the wheel tightly, swerving across three lanes of expressway traffic at 50 miles per hour to reach the exit. Minutes later, still shaken from my move, I hear a cheerful, disembodied voice instructing me to re-enter the expressway I had just exited.
I curse at my phone.
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For all the discussion of the many extraordinary ways algorithms have changed our society and our lives, one of the most impactful, and most infuriating, often escapes notice. Dominated by a couple of enormously powerful tech monopolists that have better things to worry about, our leading online mapping systems from Google and Apple are not nearly as good as they could be.
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Fourth Grade Essay Writing worksheets and printables that help children practice key skills. Browse a large selection of Fourth Grade Essay Writing worksheets at Education.com!
If you are a fourth grade student, you are just beginning to learn about composing an essay. You began writing words and short sentences in kindergarten and first grade, and learned how to combine sentences into a paragraph in second and third grade. In fourth grade, you will learn how to combine paragraphs into a ...
Follow your outline, using each of your supporting points as the topic sentence of its own paragraph. Use descriptive words to get your ideas across to the reader. Go into detail, using specific information to tell your story or make your point. Stay on track, making sure that everything you include is somehow related to the main idea of your ...
They include essay writing prompts, creative writing story starters, journal prompts, and much more. Sharpen your pencils and get ready to write! You can get 50 of these 4th grade writing prompts in a free PowerPoint slideshow bundle! They make it easy to share these writing ideas with your students.
In fourth grade, study skills play an important role in your child's writing. Kids do research using multiple sources. They also learn to take notes on what they research, read. and hear. And even stories are more advanced, with more developed characters who show their feelings and react to what happens. And perhaps most important, your child ...
To build reading skills, your 4th grader: Uses specific examples from the text to explain characters' motivations, main events, central themes, or ideas about a text. Uses the context of a text to determine the meaning of a word. Understands and can explain the differences between narrative prose, drama, and poetry.
Their writing prompt is how to succeed in the fourth grade. (You can easily modify this lesson for whatever grade you teach.) 4. Introduce the concept of audience. Discuss the audience of the students' essays and what students feel will be important for future fourth graders to know. They are now the fourth-grade experts.
Essay writing made easy using this 4th-grade writing template that provides a step-by-step essay writing process, and examples for students to easily follow. Students at any instructional level will be able to develop and execute essays using this easy to follow format.For more Common Core-aligned writing resources, check out our collection of 4th Grade Writing activities.
Include interesting facts about this animal in your essay. To answer this, your child will have to pick an animal they like and write about it in detail. This would include things like their habitat, behavior, physical features, and any other facts about them. For example, they may write about lions, describing their fur and manes, their ...
These fourth grade writing prompts and composition worksheets provide practice with organization and writing for different purposes in both fiction and informational text. The creative themes will inspire kids to write and keep them engaged as they refine their writing skills. Attack writing from all angles with fourth grade writing prompts and ...
Kids in fourth grade are writing essays that are more complex than what they've written before. Typically, they'll start with an introduction that gives a thesis. Then they'll use detailed examples to support their points. Watch this video from Understood founding partner GreatSchools to see what else usually goes into a fourth-grade essay.
Frame Your Essay. Worksheet. Informational Outlines 3. Worksheet. Personal Stories in Informational Writing. Worksheet. 1. Browse Printable 4th Grade Informative Essay Structure Worksheets. Award winning educational materials designed to help kids succeed.
Incorporating 4th-grade writing prompts into the learning journey is a dynamic and effective approach to enhancing writing skills. By encouraging creativity, developing specific writing abilities, and fostering critical thinking, these prompts play a pivotal role in shaping young writers. Whether in the classroom or at home, embracing the ...
Now that the fourth graders have learned how to take notes, they began their research in the social studies classroom. Each student picked an animal found in one of the regions of Texas and completed their research to fill in their pillars. Then the teacher modeled writing an introduction, reviewing all of the techniques that students were ...
Fourth grade writing sample #4. Zoos Should Close. This student writes an opinion piece about why she thinks zoos should close. Note that she cites multiple reasons with examples of why zoos aren't good for animals. She also addresses a counterargument and refutes it, which isn't actually required until seventh and eighth grade.
Free Writing Lessons and Worksheets for Fourth-Grade Students. Bring out your fourth-grade students' inner wordsmith with our fun, exciting writing worksheets that will inspire and motivate even the most reluctant writers. These worksheets also include prompts to get those creative juices flowing. Whether you use writing activities to foster ...
Get ready for a giggle-packed writing period with writing prompts for 4th grade! 1. Your homework was eaten by a dog. Write a story to convince your teacher. 2. Write a story using 5 words: funny, bird, sleep, guitar and pajamas. 3. Imagine you woke up and saw a giant sleeping next to you. Narrate the story.
What should a 4th grader's writing look like? What elements should it include? Watch this video to find out.GreatSchools is a nonprofit organization that hel...
Teaching Paragraph by Paragraph. The following Monday, Ms. Sneed stood in front of her class. "Today," she said, "you will learn how to write a longer essay.". Several kids looked a little unsure, but their teacher continued. "For now, I'll take you through a five-paragraph essay example.
26. Help fourth graders find just the right word. Speaking of vocabulary, when teaching fourth grade, show students how to grow their vocabulary by spending time finding just the right word for their essay or story. Check out all the options for classroom thesauruses. Ideas for Math 27. Practice math skills with the most mathematical icebreaker ...
Checklists and Rubrics. Peer Editing. Sources and Photo Credits. These strategies for teaching fourth grade writing include using picture books to teach summarizing and story writing skills, highlighting and note taking for expository writing, using graphic organizers to plan writing and peer editing and rubrics to fine tune writing.
Paragraph Writing Outline Template for Note-Taking 2nd 3rd 4th Grade. The Paragraph Writing Outline Template for Note-Taking 2nd 3rd 4th Grade was created to streamline your writing instruction and provide students with an easy-to-use structure. The outline may be used with any information, text, video, or audio.
Why Grade 4 is the Perfect Time for Introducing Personification. Grade 4 stands as a pivotal year in a student's educational journey. Not only are they more advanced in reading and comprehension, but their cognitive abilities also have expanded to grasp deeper concepts. ... Tips to Writing a Personification for Grade 3. Focus on Emotions ...
4. Do I want to test my suitability for a particular field? Sample Goals: Note that goals begin with the word "to" (to apply, to develop, to explore, to become, etc.) To gain knowledge of the operations and services provided by a community credit union and to gain a sense of how this differs from a commercial bank.
Lesson Plan. Reading the Clues, Understanding Plot Lesson Part II. Lesson Plan. Polish to Publish. Lesson Plan. Formatting Nonfiction Text. Lesson Plan. Similes, Metaphors, and Idioms of Figurative Language. Lesson Plan.
You can use these tables to convert raw scores to scaled scores for the 2024 key stage 2 (KS2) national curriculum tests. A scaled score between 100 and 120 shows the pupil has met the expected ...
Live from the 2024 Pacific Festival of Brass - B Grade from Hall 1!Please see brassbanned.com for the order of bands as well as their repertoire.
Other previously common words became notably more common in post-LLM abstracts: the frequency of "potential" increased 4.1 percentage points; "findings" by 2.7 percentage points; and "crucial" by ...
Programmed to find the fastest route without consideration of literally anything else, driving apps endanger and infuriate us on a remarkably regular basis.
I was born on July 4th, and for decades, the beauty and fun of fireworks were deeply intertwined with the way I saw my country and myself. But a family I met changed my perspective in a way I ...