Want to improve reading levels and test scores but not sure how?!? I've created some sample things you can do at home each night to practice reading. These activities will help with reading fluency (reading at an appropriate pace without hesitation over words and with expression) or reading comprehension (being able to re-tell events in story and draw conclusions from what is read.)
Reading Fluency: As you do this activity, keep in mind that the goal for a 4th grader at the end of the year is to read 115-140 words per minute! Use the attached document to chart your progress each night.
Reading Fluency: As you do this activity, keep in mind that the goal for a 4th grader at the end of the year is to read 115-140 words per minute! Use the attached document to chart your progress each night.
weekly_fluency_graph.doc | |
File Size: | 37 kb |
File Type: | doc |
- Monday night:
- Pick a couple of pages from the weekly reading story and have your child practice reading this set to a 1 minute timer.
- Have your child mark where they stopped when the timer went off. Chart it on the graph attached above.
- Make a list of any struggling words and have them practice repeating these a few times.
- Tuesday night:
- Use the same two pages from the weekly reading story and have your child practice re-reading this set to the same time limit as the previous night.
- Have your child mark where they stopped when the timer went off. Chart it on the same graph started Monday. Did they improve by a few words? If so...great job! If not, perhaps they are still struggling with the same words that were written down in the list. Practice these words over and over again.
- Make a list of any same or new words that are difficult and have them practice repeating these a few times.
- Wednesday night:
- Use the same two pages from the weekly reading story and have your child practice re-reading this set to the same time limit as the previous night.
- Have your child mark where they stopped when the timer went off. Chart it on the same graph started Monday. Did they improve by a few words? If so...great job! If not, perhaps they are still struggling with the same words that were written down in the list. Practice these words over and over again.
- Make a list of any same or new words that are difficult and have them practice repeating these a few times.
- Thursday night:
- Use the same two pages from the weekly reading story and have your child practice re-reading this set to the same time limit as the previous night.
- Have your child mark where they stopped when the timer went off. Chart it on the same graph started Monday. Did they improve by a few words? If so...great job! If not, perhaps they are still struggling with the same words that were written down in the list. Practice these words over and over again.
- Make a list of any same or new words that are difficult and have them practice repeating these a few times.
- Friday night:
- Go over whole list of words that were created throughout the week.
- Read the passage for the last time. Chart it on the same graph started Monday.
- Look to see improvement from Monday to Friday!!
Reading Comprehension: The goal of all readers is to be able to retell events in story as well as draw conclusions from what is read. Use Story Map Graphic Organizer to gather your ideas as you read each night. Use the "Thick Questions" attachment to have someone form questions similar to those found on TCAP, STAR, and your weekly reading test.
thick_questions.doc | |
File Size: | 274 kb |
File Type: | doc |
- Monday Night: Read the beginning of your reading story and use the Story Map Graphic Organizer to organize your thoughts.
- Tuesday Night: Read the middle of your reading story and use the Story Map Graphic Organizer to organize your thoughts.
- Wednesday Night: Read the end of your reading story and use the Story Map Graphic Organizer to organize your thoughts.
- Thursday Night: Use the "Thick Questions" attachment to have someone ask you questions. Go back to story and prove your answer by pointing to the part where you found it! Use your Story Map Graphic Organizer to help you answer the questions.
- Friday Night: Read a book of your enjoyment and ask yourself questions from the "Thick Questions" page.
Additional Strategies and Helpers:
- 4th Grade Sight Words
- Create a schedule to practice a set of these EVERY night so you don't have to sound them out when reading!
- 4th Grade Reading Comprehension Worksheets
- Print these off and use the strategy of highlighting the text to prove your answers.
- High Frequency Words
- Create a schedule to practice a set of these EVERY night so you don't have to sound them out when reading!
- Log onto Pearson Success Net using information found on the back of your NASCAR log. Scroll to the bottom of the page and you will see a section called "My Readers." Click on the book of your choice and you can read along as the computer reads the book with you. Listen to the book each night as you follow along and you will become a better reader.
- Fry Instant Word List
- Academic Vocabulary List
- Question Stems
- Repeated Readings
- Paired Readings