NY Regents Practice Exam | Grade 4 English Language Arts | 2013 Regents Exam Released Test
The NY Regents grade 4 Exams can be used to practice for The COMMON Core ELA State Assessments! The Regents Examination Grade 4 are developed and administered by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) under the authority of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York. Grade 4 Regents exams are prepared by a conference of selected New York teachers of each test's specific discipline who assemble a test map that highlights the skills and knowledge required from the specific discipline's learning standards.
Grade 4 English Language Arts
2010 English Language Arts Grade 4 Test
Book 1 (834 KB)
Book 2 (534 KB)
Book 3 (571 KB)
Listening Selection (434 KB)
Scoring Key & Item Map (91 KB)
Teacher's Directions (615 KB)
2009 English Language Arts Grade 4 Test
Book 1 (330 KB)
Book 2 (114 KB)
Book 3 (344 KB)
Listening Selection (92 KB)
Scoring Key & Item Map (55 KB)
Teacher's Directions (806 KB)
2008 English Language Arts Grade 4 Test
Book 1 (1.10 MB)
Book 2 (201 KB)
Book 3 (1.06 MB)
Listening Selection (169 KB)
Scoring Key & Item Map (40 KB)
Teacher's Directions (777 KB)
2008 Grades 3-8 ELA Raw Score to Scale Score Conversion Charts (27 KB)
2007 English Language Arts Grade 4 Test
Book 1 (1.36 MB)
Book 2 (204 KB)
Book 3 (315 KB)
Listening Selection (161 KB)
Scoring Key & Item Map (41 KB)
Teacher's Directions (241 KB)
2006 English Language Arts Grade 4 Test
Book 1 (1.29 MB)
Book 2 (282 KB)
Book 3 (1.14 MB)
Listening Selection (214 KB)
Scoring Key & Item Map (40 KB)
Teacher's Directions (262 KB)
English Language Arts Grade 4 Sample Test
Book 1 (727 KB)
Book 2 (183 KB)
Book 3 (283 KB)
Listening Selection (138 KB)
Teacher's Directions (271 KB)
Scoring Guide* (1.70 MB)
Answer Document (200 KB)
Grade 4 Mathematics
2010 Mathematics Grade 4 Test
Book 1 (402 KB)
Book 2 (709 KB)
Book 3 (517 KB)
Teacher's Directions (543 KB)
Scoring Key & Item Map (161 KB)
2009 Mathematics Grade 4 Test
Book 1 (193 KB)
Book 2 (125 KB)
Book 3 (139 KB)
Teacher's Directions (962 KB)
Scoring Key & Item Map (56 KB)
2008 Mathematics Grade 4 Test
Book 1 (584 KB)
Book 2 (216 KB)
Book 3 (242 KB)
Teacher's Directions (711 KB)
Scoring Key & Item Map (97 KB)
2007 Mathematics Grade 4 Test
Book 1 (659 KB)
Book 2 (226 KB)
Book 3 (254 KB)
Teacher's Directions (231 KB)
Scoring Key & Item Map (46 KB)
2006 Mathematics Grade 4 Test
Book 1 (320 KB)
Book 2 (216 KB)
Book 3 (239 KB)
Teacher's Directions (249 KB)
Scoring Key & Item Map (47 KB)
2005 Mathematics Grade 4 Test
Book 1 (839 KB)
Book 2 (615 KB)
2004 Mathematics Grade 4 Test
Book 1 (293 KB)
Book 2 (238 KB)
Scoring Key (40 KB)
Item Map (75 KB)
2003 Mathematics Grade 4 Test
Book 1 (294 KB)
Book 2 (381 KB)
Mathematics Grade 4 Sample Test
Book 1 (970 KB)
Book 2 (281 KB)
Book 3 (245 KB)
Punch-Out Tools (468 KB)
Answer Document (104 KB)
Item Map & Answer Key (90 KB)
Teacher's Directions (193 KB)
Scoring Guides (3.9 MB)
Translated Editions
Chinese
Haitian Creole
Korean
Russian
Spanish
Tier 2 and Tier 3 ELA academic testing vocabulary
alliteration
High Frequency Academic Vocabulary: Tier 2
accelerate-to make something go faster. The driver accelerated the car.
The NY Regents grade 4 Exams can be used to practice for The COMMON Core ELA State Assessments! The Regents Examination Grade 4 are developed and administered by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) under the authority of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York. Grade 4 Regents exams are prepared by a conference of selected New York teachers of each test's specific discipline who assemble a test map that highlights the skills and knowledge required from the specific discipline's learning standards.
Grade 4 English Language Arts
2010 English Language Arts Grade 4 Test
Book 1 (834 KB)
Book 2 (534 KB)
Book 3 (571 KB)
Listening Selection (434 KB)
Scoring Key & Item Map (91 KB)
Teacher's Directions (615 KB)
2009 English Language Arts Grade 4 Test
Book 1 (330 KB)
Book 2 (114 KB)
Book 3 (344 KB)
Listening Selection (92 KB)
Scoring Key & Item Map (55 KB)
Teacher's Directions (806 KB)
2008 English Language Arts Grade 4 Test
Book 1 (1.10 MB)
Book 2 (201 KB)
Book 3 (1.06 MB)
Listening Selection (169 KB)
Scoring Key & Item Map (40 KB)
Teacher's Directions (777 KB)
2008 Grades 3-8 ELA Raw Score to Scale Score Conversion Charts (27 KB)
2007 English Language Arts Grade 4 Test
Book 1 (1.36 MB)
Book 2 (204 KB)
Book 3 (315 KB)
Listening Selection (161 KB)
Scoring Key & Item Map (41 KB)
Teacher's Directions (241 KB)
2006 English Language Arts Grade 4 Test
Book 1 (1.29 MB)
Book 2 (282 KB)
Book 3 (1.14 MB)
Listening Selection (214 KB)
Scoring Key & Item Map (40 KB)
Teacher's Directions (262 KB)
English Language Arts Grade 4 Sample Test
Book 1 (727 KB)
Book 2 (183 KB)
Book 3 (283 KB)
Listening Selection (138 KB)
Teacher's Directions (271 KB)
Scoring Guide* (1.70 MB)
Answer Document (200 KB)
Grade 4 Mathematics
2010 Mathematics Grade 4 Test
Book 1 (402 KB)
Book 2 (709 KB)
Book 3 (517 KB)
Teacher's Directions (543 KB)
Scoring Key & Item Map (161 KB)
2009 Mathematics Grade 4 Test
Book 1 (193 KB)
Book 2 (125 KB)
Book 3 (139 KB)
Teacher's Directions (962 KB)
Scoring Key & Item Map (56 KB)
2008 Mathematics Grade 4 Test
Book 1 (584 KB)
Book 2 (216 KB)
Book 3 (242 KB)
Teacher's Directions (711 KB)
Scoring Key & Item Map (97 KB)
2007 Mathematics Grade 4 Test
Book 1 (659 KB)
Book 2 (226 KB)
Book 3 (254 KB)
Teacher's Directions (231 KB)
Scoring Key & Item Map (46 KB)
2006 Mathematics Grade 4 Test
Book 1 (320 KB)
Book 2 (216 KB)
Book 3 (239 KB)
Teacher's Directions (249 KB)
Scoring Key & Item Map (47 KB)
2005 Mathematics Grade 4 Test
Book 1 (839 KB)
Book 2 (615 KB)
2004 Mathematics Grade 4 Test
Book 1 (293 KB)
Book 2 (238 KB)
Scoring Key (40 KB)
Item Map (75 KB)
2003 Mathematics Grade 4 Test
Book 1 (294 KB)
Book 2 (381 KB)
Mathematics Grade 4 Sample Test
Book 1 (970 KB)
Book 2 (281 KB)
Book 3 (245 KB)
Punch-Out Tools (468 KB)
Answer Document (104 KB)
Item Map & Answer Key (90 KB)
Teacher's Directions (193 KB)
Scoring Guides (3.9 MB)
Translated Editions
Chinese
Haitian Creole
Korean
Russian
Spanish
Tier 2 and Tier 3 ELA academic testing vocabulary
Tier 2 High frequency words used by
mature language users across several content areas. Because of their lack of
redundancy in oral language, Tier 2 words present challenges to students who
primarily meet them in print. Examples of Tier 2 words are obvious, complex, establish and
verify.
Tier 3 Words that are not frequently
used except in specific content areas or domains. Tier 3 words are central to
building knowledge and conceptual understanding within the various academic
domains and should be integral to instruction of content. Medical, legal,
biology and mathematics terms are all examples of these words.
Third Grade Reading and Language Arts Academic Vocabulary
atlas
A book of maps or a book of tables, charts, pictures on one
subject.
Mr. Taylor has a world atlas in his
classroom.
abbreviation
A shorter form of a word or phrase, i.e. AZ for
Arizona.
The abbreviation for the United States of
America is U.S.A.
adverb
A word that modifies a verb by identifying time, place,
speed, etc.
Quickly is an adverb in the sentence "Jose quickly
finished his homework. "
antonyms
A word opposite in meaning to another word.
Cold is the antonym of hot.
apostrophe
The mark used to show a letter or letters have been left
out of a word or phrase or to show ownership.
Example of letters left out: You've is short for "you have"
and an apostrophe shows that "have" is missing two letters.
Example of ownership: Mr. Taylor's class reads several
books each year.
Example of ownership: The apostrophe in the
sentence "Mr. Taylor's class reads several books each year." shows the class
belongs to Mr. Taylor.
bias
One meaning of "bias" is to like or dislike one thing over
another.
Claudia has bias for chocolate over all other
candy.
chronological order
To arrange events in the order they occurred.
In chronological order, our class has
computer lab on Monday, music on Tuesday, gym on Wednesday, library on Thursday,
and art on Friday.
complete sentence
A complete sentence includes at least a
subject and a verb.
"Claudia ran." is a complete sentence.
context clues
Words, phrases or sentences around a new word that helps
the reader make a logical guess about the meaning of the new word.
Use context clues to figure out what a new
word means.
contraction
A word or phrase shortened by leaving out one or more
letters or sounds.
"You'll" is the contraction of "you
will."
compound word
A compound word is made when two words are
joined to form a new word.
The words "shoe" and "string" are joined to form the
compound word "Shoestring."
biography
The history of a persons life.
If you become famous, someone will write your
biography.
describe
To tell or write about something.
Please describe your backpack.
declarative
A sentence that makes a statement.
"The earth is round." is a declarative
sentence.
dictionary
A book of alphabetically listed words with their meanings
and other information.
Students need a dictionary when they go to
college.
exclamatory
A sudden, angry outcry; to cry out; shout; or speak
suddenly in surprise, etc.
"Lillian, be quiet! shouted her mother is an exclamatory
phrase.
fact
Something that really happened; truth; actuality; things as
they exist.
It is a fact that the moon revolves around
the earth.
fairy take
A fairy tale is a type of short story with
fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, dwarves, giants or gnomes, and usually magic or
enchantments.
The story "Jack and the Beanstalk" is a fairy
tale.
folk tale
A story or legend originating and traditional among a group
of people (folk = people), especially one forming part of the spoken tradition
of the everyday people.
The stories about Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox are
folk tales.
interrogative
Asking a question.
"Do you like chocolate ice cream?" is an
interrogative.
index
One meaning of "index" is an alphabetical list of names,
subjects, etc., together with page numbers where they can be found--usually
placed at the end of a book.
In this book, the index says there is
information about the moon on pages 31 and 73.
instructions
Education; teaching; lessons or a list of steps to be
followed to complete an assignment.
(1) Every teacher at Rio Vista gives
instructions to their students. (2) It is hard to use a TV remote
without reading the instructions.
main characteristics
The most important things that identify a person, plant,
object--or anything in the universe.
The main characteristics of most cars are
four wheels, a body where the driver and passengers sit, a steering wheel, an
engine, and headlights and taillights.
nonfiction
Books and stories which only include real people, animals,
plants, science, events, etc.
A book about birds in Tucson is a nonfiction
book.
main idea
The main idea of a passage
or reading is the the most important thought or message. (In contrast to the
term topic, which refers to the subject under discussion.)
The main idea of Mr. Taylor's instructions is
that it is important to follow directions.
multi-meaning words
Words which have more than one meaning.
Multi-meaning words will have the different
meanings listed and numbered (1, 2, 3, etc.) in the dictionary.
opinion
A person's belief based on what seems true, or probable; a
person's judgment.
Many people have the opinion that French
cooking is the best in the world.
organization
A group of persons organized for some specific purpose,
such as a club, business, team, etc.
The Rio Vista band is an organization of
students with an interest in music.
personal narrative
A story
that tells a story based on a personal experience of the
writer.
Jasmine
wrote a personal
narrative
about a trip to visit her grandmother.
plural
More than one of something.
The plural of bone is
bones.
plot
The arrangement of the main events in a book, story, poem,
or film, also known as the "story line."
The plot of most mysteries starts with a
murder.
point of view
A way of viewing things; an attitude
or the position from which something is observed or considered; a standpoint.
It is Mr. Taylor's point of view that
students must be held responsible for completing their work.
possessive
The form of a word that shows ownership.
The possessive form of John is John's. For
example, to say John owns the airplane, you would say "It is John's
airplane."
predicate
In a sentence, the verb (action word) or the verb and words
that describe the verb.
"Runs fast" is the predicate in the sentence
"Magaly runs fast."
prefix
A prefix is placed at the
beginning of a word to change its meaning.
In the word "unhappy," "un-" is the prefix.
prefixes
Prefixes are placed at the beginning of words
to change their meanings.
The prefixes we will see often are "pre-" (before), "post-"
(after), "un-" (opposite of), "anti-"(against), "hemi-" (half), "non-" (absence
of), "out-" (exceeding), "trans-" (across), etc.
The sentence "John was unhappy in preschool"
has two prefixes.
punctuation (commas)
Special marks in sentences or phrases that make the
sentences or phrases easier to understand. Some common punctuation marks are:
.
, ' ;
? !
The comma ( , ) tells where to pause or take
a breath.
root word
A word that can start to build the meaning of many
words.
"Corn" is the root word of : popcorn;
cornflower; cornmeal; cornbread; and cornmeal: all the words mean something
about corn.
run-on sentence
A run-on sentence is a sentence in which two or
more independent clauses (i.e., complete sentences) are joined
without appropriate punctuation ( ; ) or a conjunction (and, for, nor, but, or,
yet and so).
"Sydney and Sabrina were in the band Sydney played the
saxophone Sabrina played percussion" is an example of three run-on sentences.
introduction
The introduction is at the beginning of a story and it
tells you what the main idea(s) will be; it lets you
"meet" the main idea.
An introduction to your teacher lets you
meet.
singular
In grammar, the form of a word that says there is only one
of something.
In the sentence "There was only one Juliana in the class,
but there were two Gabriels," Juliana is singular and Gabriels is
plural.
sign
The word "sign" has many meanings. Among them are: to write
your name (signature); a symbol with a specific meaning ( $ meaning dollars);
and hand gestures that give information (sign language).
When you vote in any election, you have to
sign your name.
story elements (character, setting, plot)
The who, what, where and why--the parts that make up a
story.
In Harry Potter, the main characters are
Harry, Hermione, and Ron; the setting is Castle Hogwarts; and the
plot is to learn to be wizards and keep Harry safe from
Voldemort.
schedule
The way things are planned to happen in our lives, schools,
or work.
Sometimes Mr. Taylor's class schedules a trip
to the gem and mineral show in February.
subject
The person, place or thing that does the action in a
sentence.
In the sentence "Michael finished his report before lunch,"
"Michael" is the subject, and "finished" is the action
(verb).
suffixes
Letters or syllables added to the end of a word to change
its meaning.
Suffixes such as "-ish" and "-er" can be
added to the word "small" to change its meaning to smallish and smaller.
summarize
To state briefly; to shorten to its most important
parts.
Mr. Taylor asked us to summarize the first
chapter of Harry Potter and the Sorcer's Stone.
supporting details
They come after the topic sentence, making up the body of a
paragraph. What do they do? They give details to develop and help the reader
better understand the topic sentence (main idea).
If your topic sentence is "Harry Potter has a special
wand," you could add supporting details about the wand, such as
where he got it, what it's made of, and why it's a special wand.
synonyms
Different words that have the same meaning.
Synonyms of "bend" are curve and twist.
verb (types and functions)
A word that in a sentence that tells you the action (bring, read, walk, run,
learn), or a state of being (be, exist, stand).
In the sentence "Anthony ran his race and is now standing
next to the track," "ran" (the action) and "standing" (state of being) are both
verbs.
Fourth
Grade Reading and Language Arts Academic Vocabulary
acronym
A
word that is made by putting together parts of other words.
The
word "radar" is an acronym that was built from "radio
detecting and ranging"
(
"ra + d
+ a + r"
).
adjective
A
word or phrase that modifies (describes)
a noun .
The
word "brilliant" is an adjective in the sentence "Yatzari is a
brilliant student". "Brilliant"
describes the noun "student".
adverb
A
word that Modifies (describes) a verb.
"Suddenly"
is an adverb in the sentence "Anthony suddenly remembered
his homework assignment". "Suddenly"
describes the verb "remembered."
almanac
A
book that gives useful information about a particular subject; sometimes published in a month-by-month order.
For
example, a gardening almanac might tell when to plant different
flowers and vegetables.
analogy
A
phrase or sentence that shows how different things may be alike in some
ways.
"A
human heart is like a pump" is an analogy. The heart and pump are alike in one way: they each pump something.
anthology
A
book that is a collection of different writers' works (essays, stories, poems, etc.).
"Mr.
Taylor had so many interesting stories to tell.
One day he was going to publish his collection as 'An Artist's
Anthology.' "
antonym
A
word that has an opposite meaning.
An
antonym of "hot" is
"cold"; an antonym
of "fast" is
"slow".
aphorism
A
short, clear, wise statement that tells an opinion or a saying that many people
believe is true.
An
aphorism about a famous musician is the sentence "Irving Berlin
has no place in American music - he IS American music."
audience
(as listeners and readers)
A
group of people that gather to see or hear a performance -
when the performance is an "out-loud" reading, the performers are the
readers and the audience are the listeners.
For
example: "Mr. Taylor and Maria were
taking turns reading 'The Chamber of Secrets' to the class. The audience was very quiet as
the readers reached a scary part of the story."
author's
purpose
The
reason for writing - to inform, to
question, to entertain.
"Fernando
worked hard on his first prompt. His
author's purpose was to entertain his readers with his funny
story."
autobiography
The
story of someone's life, written by that person.
"Mr.
Taylor had given the students their first assignment of the year: a one-page
autobiography."
bibliography
A
list of the books and materials consulted;
appearing at the end of the text.
"Leslie
was sure to include her bibliography at the end of her science
report."
brochure
A
booklet or pamphlet that describes a subject; often an
advertisement.
"Mrs.
Kuhn carefully read the brochure that announced the opening of
the University Science
Fair."
caption
A
short description or title of an illustration in a text.
"Gloria
had written the caption '
What I Want to be When I Grow Up ' under her drawing of a jet pilot
."
category
A
set of things that are grouped together because they have something in
common.
"Eric
had lots of homework to do. Which
category would he start with?
Reading, Writing, Science, Math ...? "
cause/effect
characteristics
Cause
is the action that makes something happen;
Effect is the something that happens.
"Sarah
knocked over a glass of water onto her homework pages. Knocking over the glass was the
cause of soaking her homework.
Wet homework was the effect of knocking over the glass."
conclusion
The
part that brings something to an end
OR
a
decision that is made after looking at all the facts.
"Andrew
thought the conclusion of ‘Harry Potter and The Chamber of
Secrets‘ was really exciting!"
"After
much thought, Anthony came to the conclusion that the answer to the long division problem was '286'
"
conjunction
A
connecting word that links sentences or words ("and", "or",
"if", "but" ...).
"David
and Jose wanted to talk to Gage or Sam before school, but
the bus was late."
Conjunctions
in this sentence were "and", "or", and "but".
contest
An
organized test among entrants to find out which is best at doing
something.
"On
Tuesday there was a contest between the two fourth grades to see
which class was best at playing cricket."
conversation
A talk with someone.
"Mrs.
Kuhn would have a conversation with the "Wheels in Motion" people
to learn whether their contest would come to Rio Vista this year."
diary
A
book of a person's daily happenings and thoughts.
"George
Washington's diary was full of interesting things that happened
before the United States became a nation."
double
negatives
Using two negative forms together in a phrase
or sentence; not good
English.
"I
won't never use double negatives when I write a
story!"
drama
Works
written for performance on stage, television, or radio; usually serious subjects and manner of
performance. Sometimes anything that is
not a comedy is called a drama.
The
book “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” was dramatized
into a movie.
drawing
conclusions
Reaching
a conclusion, or a final decision, about something.
"After
Mr. Taylor sees the results of the test, he will be drawing conclusions
on on the next homework
assignment."
encyclopedia
A
reference book or set of books giving much information on all areas or
specialized areas of knowledge.
"Jade,
did you find 'Mount St. Helens' in the encyclopedia?"
fable
A
make-believe short story that teaches a moral, especially with animals as
characters.
In the fable “The Tales of Peter
Rabbit“, a young rabbit has adventures and learns about the world.
genre
A
category of artistic works, based on form, style or subject matter.
For
example, a detective novel is a genre of
fiction.
noun
A
word (or group of words) that names a person, place, or thing.
The
sentence "Ellie quickly gathered up her books to fill her
backpack ,"
contains
three nouns.
making
inferences
Reaching
a conclusion or decision from facts and reasoning.
"Hector
and Alexis were making inferences on the cost of their field trip
by adding up their lunch expenses."
outline
A
rough plan of a written work or speech; a list of main points or features to be
covered.
"Mr.
Taylor's drew an outline of his chapter on the smart
board."
possessive
nouns
Persons,
places, or things that show ownership.
In
the sentence "Sally’s car is with yellow stripes," the possessive
noun is "Sally's"
.
preposition
A
relation or function word that connects
a noun or pronoun to another part of a sentence ( "in", "by", "for", to",
etc.).
In
the sentence "Steven hit the ball and ran for first base," the word "for" is a preposition
that joins "first base" to the rest of the sentence.
pronoun
A
word that may be substituted for a noun ("I", "you", "them", "who", "ours",
"he", "she", "anybody", etc.).
"Adriana
has been working hard on long division, and it has been worth the effort
because she scored high on her math test!" The three pronouns in this sentence are
"it", "she", and "her".
proofread
To
check written work for errors and mark the changes to be made.
"Pedro
just needed to proofread and correct his 'Read and Response'
chapter, and he would be finished."
sentence
fragment
Words
that do not form a complete sentence of subject and verb.
"Mr.
Taylor for the first time." is a sentence fragment because it has
no verb.
simple
predicate
The
verb or action word of a sentence or phrase, without words that modify the
verb.
"Ran"
is the simple predicate of the sentence "Monique expertly
ran the cotton candy booth for the Rio Vista's Fantasy
Fair."
simile
A
figure of speech that compares two different things (often with "as" or "like")
.
"Red
as a beet" is a simile in the sentence "Tim's face was red as a
beet."
simple
subject
The
subject of the verb of a sentence, without words that modify the
subject.
In
the sentence "The shiny spotted horse frisked around the pasture," the
word "horse" is the simple subject.
synonym
A
word that means the same, or almost the same, as another word.
The
word "scholar" is a
synonym for "student".
tall
tale
A
story with characters or happenings that are exaggerated or made bigger than
real life.
"Pecos
Bill" is a tall tale of a cowboy who could do unbelievable things, like rope a tornado with his
lariat.
title
page (parts of)
A
title page is a page at the beginning of a book that gives the book’s title, the
author, and the publisher.
The
title, “HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE”; the author, “J.K.
ROWLING”; and the publisher, “Arthur A. Levine Books” all appear on
the title page for the first Harry Potter
book.
verb tense
The
form of a verb that shows not only the action, but when the action happens (in the past, present, or
future).
In
the sentence “ Mr. Taylor’s class will leave for lunch in 15 minutes”,
the verb tense is future;
In the sentence “The class is leaving now”, the verb tense
is present; In the
sentence “The class left,” the
verb tense is past.
Fifth Grade Reading and Language Arts Academic Vocabulary
Common Core State Standards: Tier 3 Vocabulary
alliteration
Repeating the same sounds at the beginning of words for two
or more words in a row.
Many men may meet monthly.
Girls gladly go gliding.
caption (identify)
A title, short explanation, or description accompanying an
drawing or a photograph, or words on the bottom of television or movie.
The caption under the picture read: "Mr.
Taylor's 4th grade, 2011-12."
comparative
A form of an adjective or adverb which compares one thing
to another.
He is taller than his father.
There is less
water in Arizona than in Louisiana.
coordinating conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions connect words, phrases,
and clauses.
The bowl of cereal is hot and delicious. (The
coordinating conjunction is "and.")
excerpt
A passage, quotation, or segment taken from a longer work,
such as a literary or musical composition, a document, or a film.
Mr. Taylor's Eclectic Spelling Book has
excerpts from many books and poems.
fiction
Books and stories that come from the imagination of the
writer.
Novels, short stories, detective mysteries and science
fiction are fiction.
foreshadowing
Foreshadowing is the use of hints or clues to
suggest what will happen later in the story.
There are many examples of foreshadowing in
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
glossary
A list at the back of a book that explains or defines
difficult or unusual words and expressions used in the book
Nearly all the science books used at Rio Vista have a
glossary in the back.
graphic organizer
A graphic organizer is a you can use to help you
plan what you're going to write.
Mr. Taylor does everything he can to get students to
organize their thoughts using a graphic organizer before they
start a writing.
homonym (also called a homophone)
Words that are spelled and pronounced the same way, but
have different meanings.
The metal lead and the verb lead are
homonyms.
hyperbole
Extreme exaggeration or overstatement, especially in
written work.
Adalberto used hyperbole when he told the
class the fish he caught was big as a shark.
idiom
An accepted expression in a given language that is not
grammatically standard or cannot be understood from the meanings of its
individual constituents.
She heard is straight from the horse's mouth is an
example of an idiom.
interjections
Words, exclamations or phrases inserted into a sentence,
often expressing an emotion.
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introductory paragraph
The first paragraph of an article or student writing should
be attention grabbing and make the reader want to finish the article or
story.
The introductory paragraph of an article on polar bears
might get your attention by telling you that the estimated number of polar bears
has grown from 5,000 to 25,000 between the 1950 and 2000.
labels
Descriptive words applied to persons, groups or
objects.
Rio Vista Elementary School includes two
labels: Elementary School tells you the level of the
school; and Rio Vista is the name of a particular school.
magazine
A publication, generally published on a regular schedule
(weekly, twice-monthly, monthly, etc.)
Time is a news magazine that has been
published weekly for about 80 years.
main point
The most important idea in a piece of writing. a speech or
a lecture.
The main point in Mr. Taylor's lecture was
that students will be held responsible for completing their assignments.
moral
A moral is the
lesson (don't steal, don't cheat, be nice, etc.) to be learned from a story or
event.
One moral in the Aesop's fable of the
Tortoise and the Hare is that "slow and steady wins the race."
myth
A traditional story that tries to explain nature (origin
of man, disease, volcanoes, storms, floods, etc.) in which the main characters
are gods and heroes.
In one Greek myth Zeus, the most powerful
god, was afraid his wife Metis would give birth to a god more powerful than he
was, so he swallowed Metis.
main idea/stated and implied
The main idea is the most important point in a piece of
writing or a lecture. The main idea can be clearly explained (i.e., stated), or
hinted at (i.e., implied).
The main idea of Mr. Taylor's Reading Boot
Camp is stated to be improving student reading abilities so they can
read to learn.
metaphor
A metaphor is a
figure of speech
that uses an image or story represent an idea or quality.
Her eyes were glistening jewels is a
metaphor.
narrative
A narrative is a story that describes a series of fictional
or non-fictional events.
Yatzari's narrative of her experience on the
roller coaster held our attention.
narrator
The character within a story who tells the story, or a
person who tells the story to an audience.
Alivia was the narrator for the 4th grade class play.
news
Current events presented on TV, the internet, twitter, in
newspapers or magazines, or shared by word of mouth.
More people get their news from TV and the
internet than from newspapers.
novel
A novel is a long, fictional story.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is a
novel.
onomatopoeia
A word that imitates the sound it describes.
Cuckoo, hiccup, zoom, bang, beep, splash and vroom are
examples of onomatopoeia.
parts of speech
In grammar, categories of words.
Nouns and verbs are parts of speech.
personification
Giving animals, objects or concepts human
characteristics.
Cartoon animal characters who talk and act like humans are
examples of personification.
persuade
Convincing yourself or another to adopt an idea, attitude,
or action using logic.
Sydney tried to persuade Frida to join the
Rio Vista band.
persuasion
A process of guiding another person to adopt an idea,
attitude, or action using logic.
Isaac tried using persuasion to get Hector to
play soccer.
purpose
Purpose is a result, end, aim or goal of an action.
The purpose of flash cards is to learn words by reading
them over and over.
plot
The order of events in a story.
The plot of a novel or story deals with what
happens to the main character.
point of view/perspective
Writer's (or your) view of the world consisting of
opinions, beliefs and experiences.
It is Mr. Taylor's point of view/perspective
that reading boot camp will improve your reading ability.
prompt
In a writing assignment, the subject you are told to write
about.
"What I did during my summer vacation" used to be a common
prompt the first day of a new school year.
punctuation marks (colon/semi-colon)
Colon is the punctuation mark (:) used before a long quotation, explanation,
example, or list of items.
A semi-colon (;) is a punctuation mark used most often to
separate closely related clauses in a sentence.
Mr. Taylor expects at least three things from his
students: 1) their attention; 2) completion of assignments; and 3) respect for
other members of the class.
reference source
A source of information, the most common of which are: a
dictionary; an atlas; a thesaurus; the internet, etc.
One reference source for my science project
was the Encyclopedia Americana.
reference book
A source of information in book form, such as a dictionary,
encyclopedia, atlas or thesaurus.
The best reference book for finding synonyms
is the thesaurus.
reports
To give information (usually written or spoken) about
something (person, place, thing, theory, etc.) to other people.
Our science reports are due in the
spring.
resolution
Resolution has many meanings, one of which is to set a
personal goal.
Mr. Jones' New Year's resolution was to run a
mile every day this year.
resource
In education, a resource is something or someone that helps
you learn.
The smart board is a resource that Mr. Taylor
uses to get excited about learning.
root words ( as aids in determining meaning)
The basic word upon which other words are formed.
The meaning of new words can often be determined by
identifying the root word
The root word of saddlery is saddle, so I can
guess that saddlery has something to do with saddles.
rhythm
A regularly occurring physical motion or patten of
speech.
Many poems have an interesting rhythm.
satire
A method of criticizing people in which you make fun of
their bad habits, abuses and shortcomings--usually with the goal of shaming them
into improving.
Punch was a famous British humor magazine which used
a great deal of satire.
simile
A simile is a
figure of speech that directly compares two different things, usually by
using the words "like," "as," or "than."
Cristian seemed to run as fast as a speeding
bullet.
stanza
In a poem, a grouping of lines set off by a space.
Here are two stanzas of a poem:
Mary had a little lamb,
little lamb, little lamb,
Mary had a little lamb,
whose fleece was white as snow.
And everywhere that Mary went,
Mary went, Mary went,
and everywhere that Mary went,
the lamb was sure to go.
summarize
To state briefly.
We summarize the main idea of each chapter in
our writing journals.
summary
A brief statement or account covering the main idea.
Each chapter summary in our writing journal
must include at least five sentences.
superlative
Superior to or better than all others, of highest quality
or supreme, usually a using a word ending in -est.
Mt. McKinley (Denali) is the highest mountain in North
America.
thesaurus
A reference containing synonyms and antonyms.
The thesaurus says synonyms for small
include petite, little , wee, tiny and teeny.
High Frequency Academic Vocabulary
accelerate-to make something go faster. The driver accelerated the car.
achieve-to do
or complete something with success. He wanted to become famous, and he achieved
his goal.
adjacent-near
or next to. The bank is adjacent to the post office.
alternative-one
of two or more choices. Our two alternatives are walking or taking a
taxi.
analyze-to
separate into parts for close study; examine and explain. If we analyze the
problem, perhaps we can solve it.
approach-to
come or go near to. Be careful when you approach a strange dog.
approximate-close in amount or time, but not exact. The mechanic
told us the approximate cost to repair the car. What is the approximate time
that you will arrive?
arbitrary-resulting from personal opinions, wishes, or feelings
instead of from a rule or reason. The jury's decision seemed unfair and
arbitrary.
assert-to state
with force or confidence. He asserted his innocence.
assess-to set
or try to find the importance or value of; evaluate; estimate. They assessed the
damage to his car.
assign-to
choose someone to do a particular thing. His boss assigned him to work the night
shift.
assume-to think
that something is true without knowing the facts or asking about them. Everyone
assumed they were rich because they had a big house, many cars, and a swimming
pool.
authorize-to
give authority to. My mother authorized the doctor to treat my brother's broken
arm.
automatic-working or operating by itself. This house has an
automatic heating system.
chapter-one of
the main parts of a book. The last chapter of this novel is the most
exciting.
compensate-to
pay or repay. I compensated him for the dinner he gave us.
complex-not
simple. A computer is a complex machine. English spelling is
complex.
complicate-to
make more difficult to do or understand. The bad weather complicated our
vacation plans.
comply-to do
what is asked or demanded; act in agreement with a rule (sometimes followed by
"with"). I complied with my teacher's request that I get permission from my
parents. Please comply with the campground's rule against
littering.
component- a
part of something. One of the components of the engine is missing. Vegetables
are a component of a healthy diet.
comprehend-to
understand. Do you comprehend the instructions?
conceive-to
give shape to in the mind. She conceived a clever story.
concentrate-to
make purer or stronger by taking away parts that are not necessary. To
concentrate some substances, you remove the water they contain. If you boil this
sauce for a long time, it will concentrate and get thick.
concept-a
general idea or thought. The concept of marriage is different in different
countries. My youngest child has difficulty learning new concepts.
conclude-to
bring to an end; finish or complete. We concluded the meeting and went out for
lunch.
consequence-that which follows; result. Her stomach pain was a
consequence of eating too much.
consist-to be
made up or formed of something. The United States consists of fifty
states.
constant-going
on without a pause. The dog's constant barking annoyed the
neighbors.
construct-to
build; put together. They constructed the garage in three days.
consult-to
speak with someone or look up something to gain advice or information. Bob
consulted the doctor about his pain. I consulted the dictionary to check the
spelling of a word.
context-the
setting of a word or phrase that affects its meaning. The meaning of the word
"fly" changes depending on its context.
contrast-to
compare in order to show differences. The book contrasted the lives of women a
hundred years ago with the lives of women today.
contribute-to
give something for a purpose. The contributed time and money to the animal
shelter.
convert-to change into a
different form or state. This sofa converts to a bed. He converted to his wife's
religion.
create-to bring
into being. The chef created a new dish.
criterion-a
standard or test by which to judge or decide. Power is only one criterion of a
car's quality.
crucial-very
important; deciding the success or failure of something. It is crucial that you
follow directions during a fire drill. The surgeon had reached a crucial moment
during the operation.
data-facts,
figures, or other pieces of information that can be used in different ways.
Computers are used to store large amounts of data. Data about the U.S.
population is collected every ten years.
define-to
explain the meaning of a word or phrase. This dictionary defines hundreds of
words.
definite-clear
or exact. I have no definite plans for Friday night. I have a definite reason
for wanting it this way.
demonstrate-to
show how to do something. The physical education teacher demonstrated some new
exercises.
denote-to be a
mark or sign of. A flashing red light denotes danger.
derive-to
obtain from a particular source (usually followed by "from"). Many medicines
have ingredients derived from plants.
design-to draw
plans for the form or structure of something. She designs and makes her own
clothes. He designed an addition to his house.
devise-to
invent or think out. She devised a plan to earn money.
devote-to give
to a purpose; dedicate. They devoted their time and energy to helping
others.
dimension-size
as measured in length, width, or depth. The dimensions of the box are two feet
long, one foot wide, and six inches deep.
distinct-different or separate. There are many distinct kinds of
dogs.
distort-to
twist out of shape; change the way a thing looks or acts. The ripples in the
pond distorted his reflection.
element-a basic
part of any whole. One element of this recipe is missing.
emphasize-to
give particular attention to something. The president emphasized the importance
of education.
empirical-based
on or verifiable by experience or experiment, rather than on or by theory.
Claims for the effectiveness of the drug are based on empirical
evidence-Scientists use the empirical method so that their
results can be verified.
ensure-to make
certain; cause to be a certainty. Those dark clouds ensure rain.
entity-anything
that exists objectively and distinctly, whether nonliving or living; thing or
being. A wife in those days was not viewed as a separate entity from her
husband. As a corporation, the business is a distinct entity and must pay its
own taxes.
environment-the
objects and conditions that exist in a place and influence how people feel and
develop. A safe environment is important for the proper development of a child.
Problems with the boss create a bad work environment.
equate-to make
or consider to be equal or equivalent. Classroom learning is essential, but it
cannot be equated with experience on the job. Her parents equate money with
success.
equivalent-the
same as or equal to another in force, value, measure, or meaning. Three feet is
equivalent to one yard.
establish-to
start or make something that did not exist before. He established a new business
last year.
evaluate-to judge or set the
value of. The magazine evaluated ten new cars.
evident-easily
seen; clear. Her happiness was evident to all.
expand-to make
larger or wider. The supermarket expanded its parking lot.
expose-to show
something that you usually cannot see. We pulled up the carpet and exposed the
wood floor.
external-of the
outside or outer part. He cleaned only the external surfaces of the
oven.
feasible-capable of being done, carried out, or brought about;
possible. The project seemed quite feasible when they started, but they soon ran
into an obstacle. Finishing by March is a feasible objective in our
opinion.
fluctuate-to
vary or change irregularly; rise and fall. The price of gold continually
fluctuates. My appetite fluctuates; some days I'm hungry all the time and other
days I don't feel like eating at all.
focus-the area
of greatest attention or activity. The focus of the report was changes in the
economy.
formulate-to
state in precise or systematic terms.
function-the
purpose for which an object or a person is used. The function of a police
officer is to keep the peace. The function of scissors is to cut
things.
generate-to
bring into being or to produce. The human body generates heat.
guarantee-a
promise that something you have bought will work well. If it does not, the store
must either repair it or give you a new one. There is a two year guarantee on my
new computer.
hypothesis-a
prediction or educated guess that can be tested and can be used to guide further
study. This chapter explains scientists' new hypothesis about the birth of
stars.
identify-to
find out or show who someone is or what something is. She identified him as the
criminal. He is good at identifying trees.
ignore-to
refuse to recognize or notice. She ignored me at the dance.
illustrate-to
provide pictures to go along with written material. He illustrated the
children's book with pictures of dinosaurs.
impact-the
coming together of objects with great force. The impact of the bus against the
tree cracked the windshield.
implicit-implied rather than directly stated. She realized that
his words, complimentary on the surface, contained an implicit insult. Her
rejection of his proposal was implicit in her silence.
imply-to hint
or suggest without saying directly. When she said that the floor was dirty, she
was implying that I should mop it.
indicate-to
show or point out. Can you indicate your street on the map?
individual-single, separate, or different from others. You need to
water each individual plant.
inhibit-to hold
back, restrain, prevent, or tend to do so. His fears inhibit him from making
friends. Salt inhibits the freezing of water. Threats of violence inhibited the
people from registering to vote.
initial-first.
I was nervous before my initial visit to the doctor.
innovation-a
new idea, product, or way to do something. Thanks to innovations in technology,
many people can now make use of a computer.
intense-having
a very great degree of something, such as heat, or being in a very great degree
or state. The intense heat from the burning building made it impossible for the
fire fighters to go in.
interpret-to
understand in a particular way. I interpreted her smile to mean that she agreed.
We had to interpret a poem in English class.
intuitive-of or
pertaining to intuition. He had an intuitive understanding of the
situation.
involve-to have
as a necessary part; include. Police work involves danger. Please don't involve
me in your problems.
isolate-to set
apart in order to make alone. The doctors isolated the sick child. His house is
isolated in the woods.
magnetic-having
to do with magnets and the way they work. Certain metals are
magnetic.
magnitude-size
or extent. The magnitude of the universe can make us feel small.
major-very
important. The economy is a major issue in the campaign for
president.
manipulate-to
handle or operate skillfully with the hands. He manipulated the clay to form a
tiny sculpture. Do you know how to manipulate the controls?
mathematics-the
study of numbers, amounts, and shapes, and the relationships among
them.
method-a
regular or proven way of doing something. He has his own method of
working.
minimum-the
smallest possible amount or number. There is an age minimum for this
movie.
modify-to
change in some way; alter. They modified the language of the play so that the
younger children could understand it.
negative-saying
or meaning "no. "He gave a negative answer to the question.
notion-an idea,
opinion, or view. I have no notion of what you mean.
obtain-to get;
gain. He obtained his college degree in just three years.
obvious-easy
for anyone to see or understand; clear. It was obvious that he liked her a
lot.
occur-to take
place; happen. Where were you when the crime occurred?
passive-not
being active or being part of an activity. Watching television is a passive
activity.
period-a
section of time with a set beginning and end. We will be on vacation for a
period of three weeks.
perspective-a
way of showing objects on the flat surface of a picture so that they seem the
correct size and distance from one another.
pertinent-having to do with or connected to a subject; relevant.
Sailing is not pertinent to a discussion about the desert.
phase-a
particular stage of development or of a process. Teenagers go through many
phases as they become adults.
phenomenon-a
happening or fact that can be seen or known through the senses. A hurricane is
an example of a weather phenomenon.
portion-a part
of a whole. He read a portion of the book.
potential-able
to come into being; possible. That broken stair is a potential
danger.
precede-to come
before in time. The movie was preceded by several ads for other
movies.
precise-stated
in a clear way and with details. Because of the precise directions, we were able
to find the park.
presume-to take
for granted; assume. I presumed you would wait for me even if I was
late.
prime-first in
importance. Sugar was the prime export of Hawaii for many years.
principle-a
basic law or belief on which action or behavior is based. Our country's laws are
based on the principles of liberty and justice for all.
proceed-to move
forward after a stop. After you give your name, you may proceed to the front of
the line.
publish-to
prepare and print something for the public to read. I work for a company that
publishes magazines.
pursue-to
follow in order to reach or catch; chase. The police officer pursued the thief
on foot.
random-made or
done without purpose or pattern; made or done by chance. I made a random choice
of five books from the library.
range-the two
end points or limits between which something can vary, or the distance between
these two limits. In this school, the range of ages is from five to eleven. The
paint store has a wide range of paint colors to choose from.
react-to act in
a particular way because of something that happened. Sue reacted calmly when she
heard the bad news.
region-an area
of the earth's surface that has a certain type of land and climate. This tree
grows only in tropical regions.
require-to make
something necessary. When someone requires you to do something, you must do it.
The law requires drivers to have insurance. The school requires physical
examinations for all the children.
respective-of
or belonging to each one. The brothers' respective ages are sixteen and twenty
three.
restrict-to
keep within certain limits. His parents restricted him to his room. Can we
restrict our discussion to one topic?
reverse-opposite in direction, position, or movement. The
reverse side of the towel is softer.
role-the
customary or expected behavior associated with a particular position in a
society. She feared that she could not fulfill the role of a royal
princess.
section-a part
that is different or apart from the whole. I like living in this section of the
city. Put the book back in the top section of the bookcase.
segment-one of
the parts into which something is or can be separated. She divided the orange
into segments. He wrote about one segment of our history.
select-to
choose; pick. Please select the song you would like to play.
sequence-the
order in which things follow one another. Classes at our school follow the same
sequence every day.
series-a group
of similar things that come one after another. She read a series of articles in
the newspaper. He had a series of back injuries.
shift-to move
or change position. The boy shifted in his chair.
signify-to
serve as a sign of; mean. I've seen this symbol many times, but I can't remember
what it signifies.
similar-being
almost the same as something else. Lee's handwriting is similar to
mine.
simultaneous-existing, happening, or done at the same time. The
gymnasts all did a simultaneous flip.
sophisticated-having or showing a lot of knowledge or experience; not
ignorant or simple. This author writes for a sophisticated
audience.
species-a group
of living things that are the same in many important ways. Members of a species
can produce young together. Cats and dogs belong to different
species.
specify-to name
or otherwise indicate explicitly. She specified her niece as the heir to her
fortune. Did he specify which brand of coffee he wanted?
stable-firm or
steady; not likely to move. The table is not stable because one of its legs is
too short.
statistic-a
piece of numerical information. The almanac also gives weather statistics such
as record high or record low temperatures. The census gathers statistics on the
population such as the number of children per household. The percentage of
people who voted in the election is an interesting statistic.
status-a
person's position or level in comparison with the position of other people. His
status rose when he got the new job.
structure-a
thing that is made up of different parts that are connected in a particular way.
A human cell is a complicated structure. That new hotel is an interesting
structure.
subsequent-coming or happening after; following. His first film
was a complete flop, but his subsequent films were quite successful. Four years
subsequent to their arrival in New York, they moved the family to Chicago. In
subsequent years, they were to think fondly of how they had first
met.
suffice-to meet
needs, goals, or the like adequately; be sufficient.
sum-the number
or amount that comes from adding two or more numbers. The sum of ten and ten is
twenty.
summary-a short
and usually comprehensive statement of what has been previously stated. The
paper ended with a concise summary of all of the writer's points. I didn't have
time to read the whole article so I read just the summary.
technique-a
particular way of doing something. He learned several techniques for baking
bread.
technology-a
field of knowledge having to do with the use of science and industry to help
solve common problems of life. Technology is used to help solve energy
problems.
tense-pulled or
stretched tight. My muscles are still tense from lifting those heavy
boxes.
tense-the form
of verbs that shows when an action happens. In English, verbs change their form
to show past or present time. In the sentence "I stopped the car," the verb
"stopped" is in the past tense.
theory-a
statement that explains why something happens but has not been proven. The
police have a theory about who stole the jewels. The scientists discussed
theories about the beginning of life on Earth.
trace-a very
small amount of something. There was a trace of smoke in the air. The police
detective found a trace of lipstick on the glass.
tradition-the
beliefs and ways of doing things that are passed down from parents to children.
Many people celebrate holidays by carrying out old family
traditions.
transmit-to
send or carry from one person, place, or thing to another. They transmitted the
message to their leader. The television station refused to transmit the
program.
ultimate-last
or farthest in a progression; final. Your grade will be based on the quality of
your ultimate product. To become a full professor is her ultimate goal. They
sailed to the port of New York, but Minneapolis was their ultimate
destination.
undergo-to have
the experience of; receive; endure. She'll undergo surgery on her foot next
week. Our family underwent major changes last year.
usage-way or
manner of using or treating something. The teacher explained the usage of the
new words and expressions.
valid-based on
truth, fact, or logic. It's valid to say that cats have whiskers. His argument
is valid.
vary-to change
from something else, or to be different from other things. The weather varies a
lot this time of year. The children vary in age from eight years old to fifteen
years old.
verbal-having
to do with words. That poet has wonderful verbal skill.
verify-to make
sure of the truth or correctness of. We verified his story by talking to his
father. The waiter verified our bill by checking it with a
calculator.
vertical-straight up and down; upright. His shirt has vertical
stripes.
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