In reading class, we have been working on a lot of strategies
and skills to help us become better readers. Below is a list of
what we have worked on. You can help your child at home by
reinforcing these at home.
3 WAYS TO READ A BOOK:
1. READ THE PICTURES
2. READ THE WORDS
3. REREAD
DO YOU HAVE A GOOD FIT BOOK?
We all are different readers! Nobody reads exactly the same. To make sure you have a
good fit book do the following:
Make sure it is interesting - if you don't like it then you wont read it.
Pick a page to read and look for words that you can't pronounce or that you do not know.
Use the following guide:
0 -1 word - too easy
2 - 3 words - a good fit book
4-5 words - too hard
COMPREHENSION STRATEGIES:
CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING - stop after every couple of pages or paragraphs and tell
what is going on. Do you understand it?
BACK-UP AND REREAD - if you do not understand what you are reading then back up and
reread it
GOOD FIT BOOK - a good fit book will help to ensure you are able to read and understand
what you are reading
USE PICTURES - if a story or text has pictures then use them to help you understand
what you are reading
ASK QUESTIONS - if you do not understand something, ask others for help
RETELL THE STORY - summarize the story by retelling it in your own words
PREDICT WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT - talk about what you think will happen next by
using what you've read and already know
MAKE A PICTURE IN YOUR HEAD - close your eyes and picture what is going on. It may
sound crazy, but trust me - it helps!
USE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE - take what you already know about a subject and use it for
what you are reading
READ QUESTIONS FIRST – if your story comes with questions then read the questions
first. This way you know what you are looking for.
UNDERLINE OR HI-LIGHT TEXT – when you come to something important, hi-light or
underline it. DO NOT HI-LIGHT OR UNDERLINE EVERYTHING – JUST IMPORTANT
INFORMATION OR ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS YOU PREREAD!
FLUENCY STRATEGIES
REREAD ALOUD - by rereading a book aloud, you become more comfortable and a better
reader
GOOD FIT BOOK - a good fit book will contain words that you understand and can
pronounce making it easier to read
USE PUNCTUATION - this is really important to those really fast readers. Slow down
and pay attention to the punctuation. Pause at end punctuation, pause at a comma, read
with excitement if there is an exclamation (!) mark.
USE SIGHT WORDS - you've had sight words since you were in kindergarten so you know
what they are. Practice them at home or even out and about. Read signs and billboards.
They are always using sight words.
WHAT ARE THE “GENRES”?
Genres are the different categories for reading. The two main genres are fiction and
non-fiction. Fiction means made up, or not true. It has many subcategories. Non-fiction is
factual and not fake.
Historical Fiction – a fictional story with real and invented characters that takes place
during a historical time
Mystery – a suspenseful story about a puzzling event that is not solved until the end of the
story
Fantasy – a story including elements that are impossible such as talking animals or magical
powers
Poetry – a verse written to inspire thought
Non-Fiction – all of the information is based on TRUE facts and NOT made up
Autobiography – the story of a real person’s life that is written by that person
Biography – the story of a real person’s life that is written by another person
Realistic Fiction – a story using made-up characters that takes place in modern times
Science Fiction – a story that blends futuristic technology with scientific fact and fiction
UPCOMING GENRES
December – Drama / Plays  We will read in class
January – Realistic Fiction – Students must read 1 realistic fiction novel and fill out
response sheet
February – Biography – Students need to read about a famous Ohioan for their famous
Ohioan project in Social Studies
March – Science Fiction – Students must read 1 science fiction novel and fill out the
response sheet
April – Poetry and Fantasy – Poetry will be read in class and students must read 1 fantasy
novel and fill out the response sheet
MONTHLY CALENDARS
Please make sure your child is reading their 100 minutes per week. Please remember to
initial every Friday to confirm that minutes have been read. The students can read
anything of their choice for those 100 minutes per week. They have a lot to choose from:
the genre of the month book, the calendar stories, homework, magazines, and their good
fit book.
WHAT ARE FOURTH GRADERS READING?
The Harry Potter Series
The Percy Jackson Series
Judy Blume
Ramona
Big Nate The Lost Hero Rick Riordan The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series
GETTING IN TOUCH WITH MRS. FREEMAN
Email – Jacquie.freeman@foresthills.edu
Webpage – Go to Wilson’s main page, click on Teacher WebPages, click on Jacquie Freeman