How to Help With Fourth Grade Reading
Fourth-grade reading proficiency includes the ability to independently read and understand chapter books of fiction and nonfiction. Key challenges for fourth graders are the ability to interpret the meaning of new words by identifying the root word and to analyze the development of characters and plot in the story. In addition, boys often lose interest in reading in the fourth grade, which poses a challenge for them in subsequent grades. Individuals who wish to help fourth-graders with their reading skills can provide a variety of reading material, encourage an oral retelling of the story, and volunteer in school.
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Instructions
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Provide a variety of reading materials to the fourth-grader to encourage reading at deeper levels of understanding. Magazine and newspapers are short non-fiction sources. Provide autobiographies of interesting people, such as Neil Armstrong, if available. Fables encourage students to interpret multiple layers of meaning within the text. Mysteries and fantasies encourage readers to anticipate events in the story.
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Encourage the student to verbally recap the story. Students will release aspects of the story as they retell it, broadening their understanding. In addition, you can gauge the depth of reading understanding the student has developed by his ability to identify main characters, plots, changes in characters, and character motivations.
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Establish a fourth grade-level book club. Moderate the book club initially by asking open-ended questions about the story to encourage conversation. After a few meetings, the members will be able to manage the group discussion on their own with your supervision.
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Volunteer to read books to students at the library or in the classroom at school. Students can develop new enthusiasm to read by listening to adults they admire read to them.
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References
- Photo Credit happy boy image by Marzanna Syncerz from Fotolia.com
