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4th grade · English Language Arts · Unit 16 of 20

Listening & Talking Together

Good listeners, good questions, kind conversations

What your child practices

Practices listening for key ideas, taking turns, asking open-ended questions, giving reasons and using rich words and linking words in conversation.

New York State Learning Standards learning standard: 4SL1; 4SL3 · taking turns, asking good questions and giving reasons in a discussion

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Wait for a pause, then add your idea.
  2. Ask open questions like “What makes you say that?” to learn more.
  3. If you disagree, be kind and give a reason: “I see it differently, because…”

Example: Which question helps you learn more about a speaker’s idea: “Is that right?” or “What makes you say that?” A yes-or-no question gives a short answer. An open question invites them to explain. Answer: What makes you say that?

Listening & Talking Together in New York

In the New York State Learning Standards, this is unit 16 of 20 in 4th grade English Language Arts, after Listen, Speak & Read Aloud and before Revise & Polish.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: New York State Education Department (NYSED)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Which shows that you are NOT listening?

    • Fidgeting and talking to someone else
    • Nodding along
    • Asking a question about the topic

  2. Question 2

    Which is a richer word than "big" for a huge mountain?

    • tiny
    • enormous
    • small

  3. Question 3

    Which is a polite way to join a conversation?

    • Wait for a pause, then add your idea
    • Interrupt loudly
    • Turn your back

  4. Question 4

    Which word best completes it? "We wore mitts ___ it was very cold."

    • so that
    • but
    • because

  5. Question 5

    Which shows you are listening to a speaker?

    • Talking to a friend
    • Looking at the speaker and nodding
    • Looking out the window

  6. Question 6

    During a group discussion, you disagree with a point. What should you do?

    • Stay silent and be upset
    • Say it politely and explain why
    • Roll your eyes

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