Year 4 - English Targets for Term 3 & 6
Year 4 - English Targets for Term 3 & 6 Focus area: Choosing and using descriptive vocabulary For each year group children are encouraged to collect words in word banks, ‘magpie books’ etc. The children should be taught to use word banks, dictionaries and a thesaurus appropriate to their age group. When developing descriptive language retelling and recounting stories is very important and actively encouraged, as is sharing and remodelling non-fiction texts. However children should also be given opportunities to develop descriptive writing skills independently on themes that have not been first modelled for them. Children should use the vocabulary highlighted in blue when discussing their writing and be able to explain what these terms mean.
I know that adjectives are describing words. I know that verbs are doing words. I can find, choose and select interesting adjectives and verbs to use in my writing. I can write expanded noun phrases (i.e. the blue butterfly, plain flour, the man in the moon) Year 4 Bronze
I know some better words (synonyms) for said, run, eat, big, little, happy and sad and can use them in my writing. I can name opposites (antonyms) for describing words and verbs. I can explain why I chose a word and I know how these words improve my writing.
I know what nouns and proper nouns are and I can identify them in my writing. I know how pronouns can replace nouns and proper nouns to avoid repetition in my writing. I can name a group of people or things with the correct collective noun. I can use a range of adjectives and verbs to add detail and interest to my writing. Year 4 Silver
I can find other synonyms for common verbs and adjectives and use them to improve my writing. I can explain why I chose a stronger adjective or powerful verb over a weaker one. I can use adverbs, conjunctions and prepositions within my writing to express time, cause and place.
I can add greater detail and description to my writing by creating expanded noun phrases using adjectives, nouns and precise nouns, and preposition phrases. I can recognise personal pronouns and possessive pronouns and use them correctly in my writing to avoid the repetition of nouns. I can make lists of synonyms for common verbs and adjectives. I choose to use strong adjectives and powerful verbs in my writing. I can recognise comparative adjectives and superlative adjectives and understand their function. Year 4 Gold
I can recognise adverbs and understand their function. I can use fronted adverbials (followed by a comma) to start my sentences. I can use comparative adjectives, superlative adjectives and adverbs to create shades of meaning in my writing. I can use alliteration and onomatopoeia effectively in my writing. I can identify and share a ‘best sentence’ where I have used interesting and effective vocabulary and description and say how this has improved my writing for the reader.
Each time I write I find ways to include a range of descriptive words and phrases in my writing including: precise nouns, noun phrases, strong adjectives, powerful verbs, adverbs and comparative and superlative adjectives. I can use a thesaurus to find a better and relevant synonym for a simpler word. I can recognise and name common nouns, proper nouns, collective nouns and abstract nouns. When I write I make sure my nouns, pronouns and verbs agree and are in the correct tense. I can indicate degrees of possibility using adverbs (i.e surely, perhaps etc) and modal verbs (might, should, will, must etc). Year 4 Platinum
I know how to construct expanded noun phrases and adverbial phrases and use them in my writing to add further detail and description. I know how to use expanded noun phrases to convey complicated information concisely. I can convert nouns or adjectives into verbs. I can use verb prefixes. I can search for, identify and classify a range of prepositions (i.e back, up, below, through). I know how to use similes and metaphors effectively in my writing. I can identify detailed and descriptive sentences in my writing where I have chosen words and phrases appropriate to the mood and actions of the character, or events in the plot, or to describe the setting. I can explain how my vocabulary choices improve my writing for the reader.
I know that adjectives are describing words. I know that verbs are doing words. I can find, choose and select interesting adjectives and verbs to use in my writing. I can write expanded noun phrases (i.e. the blue butterfly, plain flour, the man in the moon) Year 4 Bronze
I know some better words (synonyms) for said, run, eat, big, little, happy and sad and can use them in my writing. I can name opposites (antonyms) for describing words and verbs. I can explain why I chose a word and I know how these words improve my writing.
I know what nouns and proper nouns are and I can identify them in my writing. I know how pronouns can replace nouns and proper nouns to avoid repetition in my writing. I can name a group of people or things with the correct collective noun. I can use a range of adjectives and verbs to add detail and interest to my writing. Year 4 Silver
I can find other synonyms for common verbs and adjectives and use them to improve my writing. I can explain why I chose a stronger adjective or powerful verb over a weaker one. I can use adverbs, conjunctions and prepositions within my writing to express time, cause and place.
I can add greater detail and description to my writing by creating expanded noun phrases using adjectives, nouns and precise nouns, and preposition phrases. I can recognise personal pronouns and possessive pronouns and use them correctly in my writing to avoid the repetition of nouns. I can make lists of synonyms for common verbs and adjectives. I choose to use strong adjectives and powerful verbs in my writing. I can recognise comparative adjectives and superlative adjectives and understand their function. Year 4 Gold
I can recognise adverbs and understand their function. I can use fronted adverbials (followed by a comma) to start my sentences. I can use comparative adjectives, superlative adjectives and adverbs to create shades of meaning in my writing. I can use alliteration and onomatopoeia effectively in my writing. I can identify and share a ‘best sentence’ where I have used interesting and effective vocabulary and description and say how this has improved my writing for the reader.
Each time I write I find ways to include a range of descriptive words and phrases in my writing including: precise nouns, noun phrases, strong adjectives, powerful verbs, adverbs and comparative and superlative adjectives. I can use a thesaurus to find a better and relevant synonym for a simpler word. I can recognise and name common nouns, proper nouns, collective nouns and abstract nouns. When I write I make sure my nouns, pronouns and verbs agree and are in the correct tense. I can indicate degrees of possibility using adverbs (i.e surely, perhaps etc) and modal verbs (might, should, will, must etc). Year 4 Platinum
I know how to construct expanded noun phrases and adverbial phrases and use them in my writing to add further detail and description. I know how to use expanded noun phrases to convey complicated information concisely. I can convert nouns or adjectives into verbs. I can use verb prefixes. I can search for, identify and classify a range of prepositions (i.e back, up, below, through). I know how to use similes and metaphors effectively in my writing. I can identify detailed and descriptive sentences in my writing where I have chosen words and phrases appropriate to the mood and actions of the character, or events in the plot, or to describe the setting. I can explain how my vocabulary choices improve my writing for the reader.
