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RSG Parent's Handbook

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Page 1: RSG Parent's Handbook

Mffiffiffi

4& .d+

wR&

* fun wqys to procticereodingspellingand gromrnar

* eosy-to-understanddirections

* cleor explonotionsof skrlls

* 'pull-out onswer keys

Page 2: RSG Parent's Handbook

LIBRA

Did you know that helping your child succeed in school canbe easy and fun? lt can! For over 25 years,the editors ofAmerica's #l teacher magazine, The MoilboP,have helpedclassroom teachers teach basic skills. Now these elementaryeducation experts will guide you step by step as you provideyour child with basic skills practice. Over a hundred child-friendly learning pages will help your child master the basicskills needed for academic success.

Put the books in the Learning Library'to work for you!. Build skills and confidence all year long.. Prepare your child for end-of-year testing.. Review basic skills over the summer.

Now availoble in the Learning Library'series:TEC3732. Math Grade KTEC3717. Math Grade I

TEC37l8. Math Grade 2TEC37l9. Math Grade 3

TEC372O. Math Grade 4TEC3733. Math Grade 5

TEC373 l. Getting Ready for Reading'.Gr"ade KTEC372|. Phonics, Reading, & Spelling Grade I

TEC3727. Reading, Spelling, & Grammar Grade 2

TEC3723. Reading, Spelling, & Grammar Grade 3

TEC3724..$eg$ing, Spelling, & Grammar Grade 4TEC3734. Rdiding, Spelling, & Grammar Grade 5

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Page 3: RSG Parent's Handbook

Gapitalization RulesTo capitalize means to begin a word with a capital letter.

The following items should always be capitalized:

the first word in a sentence o

We went to the store yesterday.

proper nounsnames of peopleBeverly Cleary o

geographic namesNew JerseyEuropeHillside StreetMississippi River o

historic eventsStamp ActCivil War

names of days or months o

WednesdayDecember

national and local holidaysEaster

o

proper adjectivesSpanishAmerican

the pronoun I

When I heard the news, I shoutedfor joy.

titles and initialsCaptain KirkMrs. KrolikowskiR. J. Hayes

words used as namesWill you ask Dad if we can go to themovies?We saw Aunt Ellie at the park.

first word in the greeting andclosing of a letterDear Julie,My dear friend,

titles of written works (first word,last word, all main words)Sports lllustrated for KidsThe Wizard of Oz

abbreviationsP.T.A.

USADr.

@The Education Center, lnc.. Learning Library. Reading, Spelling, & Grammar.TE}s734

Page 4: RSG Parent's Handbook

Punctuation Rules

Use a commao to seParate items in a date or

addressAugust 22, 1970Bardstown, KentuckY 40004

. after the greeting and closing ofa letterDear Andrew,Yours trulY,

o to separate words or Phrases in aseriesSharon bought eggs, bread, and

milk at the store.. with quotations to set off the

exact words of the sPeaker fromthe rest of the sentenceJimmy said, "l want to visit mY niece

in North Carolina."o to s@Parate a noun of direct

address from the rest of thesentenceRob, did your team win the hockeY

game last night?o to separate a long clause or

phrase from the indePendentclause following itAs I was walking on the beach, I

found several conch shells.When Jeff bought his new car, he

sold his old one.. to ioin two simple sentences into

a compound sentenceMadeline went to sleeP, but

Mackenzie staYed uP to watch

television.

. to set off an appositive(a word or Phrase that renames the

noun or pronoun before it)

Adrienne, a great gYmnast, won

first place at the meet.. with an interrupter (a word,

phrase, or clause that interrupts the

main thought of a sentence)

Swimming, I feel, is the best exer-

cise. ln the end, however, Carlin

couldn't come to the Party.. when writing the last name first

Lundein, Gregory

Use a colon. after the greeting of a business

letterDear Mr. Metcalf:

. in writing times3:45

. before a list or seriesThere were three contestants:Angela, Sarah, and Jackie'

. after the speaker in a play ordialogueNicholas: When are we leaving?

Alex: We leave in about 20 minutes-

Use a semicolon. between the independent clauses

of a comPound sentence when aconjunction is not usedMartin washed the car; Johnwaxed it.Beverly and Michael went to Hawaii;

they stayed there for two weeks.

@The Education center, lnc.. Learning Library. Reading, spelling, & GrammarTECsTSA

Page 5: RSG Parent's Handbook

I

Your fifth grader will continue to build on his knowledge of spellingpatterns, including common spellings of vowel sounds and consonantsounds. He will learn the spellings of common root words, prefixes,suffixes, and different forms of words. ln addition, fifth graders continueto learn "spelling rules," such as patterns involving the following:

. forming plurals with -s and -es . consonant digraphs

. adding -ed, -ing, -er, and -est

. doubling final consonants

. changing y to i

. dropping the final -e

. adding prefixes and suffixes

. homophones

a

a

silent letterslong- and short-vowelsoundsrcontrolled vowelssyllable variationscontractions

a

a

a

Fifth-grade teachers help students develop their "spelling conscious-ness" by addressing how children misspell words and giving them spellingstrategies they can use to spell words that are challenging for them. Thesecan include such tactics as

. thinking of rhyming words

. looking for problem parts

. pronouncing, then spelling

. identifying patterns

. associating spellings with word meanings

. memorization and visualization. dividing long words into syllables. using memory tricks (To spell arithmetic, say, "A rat in the house

might eat the ice cream!")

Students are encouraged to choose their favorite strategies to help spelltroublesome words on their own. These strategies help children patrol theirown spelling-a major focus in fifth grade! You can help your student spellbetter by choosing some of the activities on the following pages.

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Page 6: RSG Parent's Handbook

ft/lag netilc-Let€er Spe[ [ i n gEncourage a strong interest in family-focused spelling with a word-a-day program.

lnvest in two sets of magnetic letters. Randomly arrange the letters on your refrigeratoror a magnetboard. Each day have a different family member choose a word from thedictionary and invite another family member to spell out the word using the letters. Besure each person is given a turn to choose and spell a word. Keep a tally of the numberof words spelled correctly. At the end of the week (or month), allow the winner to choosea special treat and then reward the entire family for increasing its vocabulary!

*cmp*xterixed $pel E i rngTurn your computer-centered child into a word wizard with the following creative spell-

ing ideas!

' Ohoose a paragraph from a book or magazine of interest to your child. Type theparagraph on your computer using a word-processing program. Using theprogram's find-and-replace feature (usually found under "Edit'on the menu bar) oron your own, replace each vowel in the paragraph with a blank. Print a copy of thedocument or have your child retype the paragraph using his spelling skills to fill inthe missing vowels.

' Each week, tape-record your child's spelling or vocabulary list. Place the tape andtape recorder beside your computer (also provide headphones if desired). lnstructyour child to play the tape-stopping and rewinding as needed-and type eachword on the computer's word-processing program. After she types all of the words,have her use the program's spell check to identify words she needs to study andthen correct her spelling. Have the student print out the corrected list to use as aspelling guide.

' Create a cryptic spelling fun sheet! To create the sheet, select a font that printssymbols for letters. Type the alphabet in symbols across the top of the page withyour child's weekly spelling or vocabulary list underneath it. Leave enough spacebetween the words for your child to write and spell each one correctly. Your spellerwill anxiously await a new cryptic challenge!

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Page 7: RSG Parent's Handbook

Fifth-Glade Parent Pages

Fifth graders write stories, personal narratives, compari-sons, contrasts, letters, and descriptive passages. To

achieve these literary feats, fifth graders must use theirword-analysis skills to increase their written vocabulary'Fifth-g rade teachers encou rage vocabu lary developmentin a number of ways, most notably with weekly vocabularylessons that involve reading, writing, and testing. Weeklyword lists may include words from the reading, science,social studies, or math topics being studied.

Word analysis begins with basic root words, such asthe word acf. Fifth graders quickly learn they can buildnew words--such as action, react, and reactionAyadding prefixes and suffixes.

Your fifth grader will build on her word base by. using knowledge of letter-sound combinations

and syllables. using knowledge of root words, prefixes, and

suffixeslocating meaning, pronunciation, and derivationsin a dictiondry, a glossary, or other sourcesusing knowledge of word origins, derivations,synonyms, antonyms, and idioms to determinethe meaning of unfamiliar words

. determining the meaning of unfamiliar words

. recognizing words with multiple meanings

. interpreling figurative language, such as similesand metaphors

. reading for comprehension in every subject area

To further your child's vocabulary development,try the ideas on the next page and theactivities on the pages that follow.

Page 8: RSG Parent's Handbook

Herp your chird set the point SXll'tfii::ffl11Ln" toil*ins r; activity. Gather20.or more playing cards, a dictionary, paper, anO a pencil. Togethir with your child,write a commonly misused word on each of the playing cards.-To play the game, oneplayer draws a card, turns it faceup on the table, anO uses the word correcly in anoriginal sentence. lf the partner agrees that the word was used correcly, the playerearns the point value identified on the card. (Determine a point value fo?lacks, queens,kings, and aces prior to the game.) At the end of the game, add up the points. Theplayer with more points wins.

Word SleuthPut your child hot on the trail of word analysis! Comb through a current newspaper

or magazine with your child. lnvite him to choose an interestin! article. As you read thearticle together and come across words that are unfamiliar to liour child, stop to ,,inves-tigate" them. Encourage your young detective to identify the root word and any prefixand/or suffix for each wo1d. Guide your child to use the meaning of the word parts todetermine the meaning of each word. Further the investigation 5y having him use atool of the trade-a dictionary-to identify the word's defi'nition, p"rt of s[eech (asused in the context of the article), and any synonyms or antonyms.

Vocabulary HobbyMake vocabulary building a hobby with your childl lnvite your child to choose a

favorite hobby or a topic in which she is interested. Have her create a chart of termsthat relate to her loqi., Encourage her to add a creative twist, such as writing words onthe lines of a football field or inside musical notes. lnvite frer io post the finished charton a wall in her room. As she continues participating in or learning about the hobby,have her continue to add new words.

. Use the ramirv.,.gr,lqg,.glgr to ors#;ffiS:?trary words. post a brank pieceof paper labeled "Vlord List" in a place of prominence. Then encourage your fifthgrader-and other family members-to place words on the fridge tnai ne may notunderstand, such as those heard on TV, found in the morning paper, or spoken byother family members' At the end of each week, have your cniio iook up that week,swords in the dictionary. This will shortly become a habit that is hard to break and onethat could just last a lifetime.

Get Cross (Words)!Crossword puzzle books are a fun and educational way of building your child,s

vocabulary' lnvest in a crossword book on your child's developmenta] Lvel, as wellas a crossword dictionary for him. To make him feel like a special word detective, labelthe cover with your child's name and write an encouraging inscription inside. Next,encourage your child to complete the crossword puzzlbs,Lhoosing to tackle one ormore per week. lnvest in your own crossword book and dictionaryland spend timecompleting these puzzles together!

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Page 9: RSG Parent's Handbook

#wThis school year is a very important year for your child. Basic grammar s

is emphasized to an extent not previously experienced in earlier grades.Good grammar skills are essential to tackle the increased amount ofwriting done by fifth graders. Today, many school districts across thecountry are giving their fifth graders standardized writing tests, for #which proper grammar use is a graded part of the overall test score.

While writing, fifth graders have many opportunities to practice goodgrammar. Paragraphs, longer compositions, and written reports ona variety of topics are a part of your child's curriculum. Fifth graderswill be asked to write personal narratives, comparisons andcontrasts, letters, stories, and descriptive passages, as well asinformational pieces. Creative writing in many forms is also encouraged.Through these assignments, grammar skills-such as punctuation, partsof speech, and paragraph structure-are reinforced.

Your fifth grader will encounter the following skills:. Parts of speech, including common and proper nouns,

pronouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, prepositions,and conjunctions

. Subject and verb agreement

. Possessives

. Abbreviations

. Capitalizalion, including titles, magazines, books,

o

a

and proper nounsPunctuation, including commas in a series,quotation marks, and apostrophesSimple and compound sentencesSentence structure

To ensure your child has a successful fifth-gradeyear, have him try the grammar activities on the followingpages for developing good home-study skills.

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Page 10: RSG Parent's Handbook

Gapitalizing Proper Nouns *Let art play a part in capitalization practice with this easy-to-do activity! Ask your

child to identify examples of proper nouns from around the home. Encourage studentsto cut out examples from empty product boxes, old magazines or newspapers, etc.Have your child glue his examples collage-style on a colorful sheet of constructionpaper. On the back of the collage, have the student list each proper noun and acommon noun that describes it. Display the collages as a ready reminder of thecapitalization all around us!

ldentifying Action VerbsLooking for a way to put your student's verb skills into action? Help your child find

a favorite photo of herself engaged in some type of activity. Next, give her a sheet oflight-colored construction paper, glue, and a fine-tip marker. Have your child glue thephoto to the center of the paper. Then direct her to write several sentences surroundingthe photo that tell a story about what is happening, making sure that each sentenceincludes an action verb. lf desired, display the action-filled personal poster in a familyphoto area.

ldentifyi ng AdjectivesUnderstanding adjectives is in the bag with this simple guessing game! Gather

several small items, such as a candle, necklace, or sponge. Place one object in apaper bag labeled "NOUN." Show your child the bag. Then explain that you will giveclues about the mystery noun inside by sharing words that describe il-adjectives.lf your child correctly identifies the object, let him remove it from the bag and secretlyreplace it with another item, which he will describe and you will try to guess. Play aslong as desired.

ln the NewsHighlight the use of abbreviations and acronyms with this funto-do newspaper

activity. Obtain a newspaper and two different-colored highlighters. After setting atimer for ten minutes, have your child search the newspaper and highlight itemsaccording to a code (for example, abbreviations = blue and acronyms - yellow). Atthe end of the time period, tally the number of correctly highlighted items and togetheridentify each one's meaning.

The Parent (and Sibling!) TrapMake it a point of family fun to try to trap one another with silly sentence errors!

Cut several 9" x 12" sheets of light-colored construction paper in half and gatherseveral fine{ip markers (enough for a family supply). Give each family member asheet of paper and a marker. lnstruct each member to write a silly sentence fragmentor run-on (such as "Meg, who is a bouncing ballerina"). Collect the sheets and postthem in a prominent area. Then challenge your child to escape the family trap bycorrecting the sentence (adding to the silliness if desired) and writing it below theincorrect one. Continue until each sentence is correctly rewritten and shared.

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Page 11: RSG Parent's Handbook

Parts of SpeechNounsA noun names a person, a place, athing, or an idea.Person: Jacob, girl, teacher, Ms.

SingletonPlace: Chicago, schoolThing: computer, tree, elephantIdea: happiness, anger, responsibility

A common noun is the general nameof a person, a place, a thing, or anidea. A common noun isn't capitalized.A proper noun names a specificperson, place, thing, or idea. lt is alwayscapitalized.Common: buildingProper: Empire State Building

A singular noun names a singleperson, place, thing, or idea. A pluralnoun names more than one person,place, thing, or idea.Singular: book, bush, piano, leaf , oxPlural: books, bushes, pianos, leaves,

oxen

VerbsA verb is a word that describesan action or state of being. lt isthe main word in the predicateof a sentence.

An action verb is a word that descrlbesa physical or mental action.The coach pointed to the goal line.The team listened to the quarterback's

suggestions.

A linking verb links the subject to anoun or adjective in the predicate ofa sentence. lt says something is, was,or will be. lt does not show action.I willbe the speaker at tomorrow's

assembly.

A helping verb comes before themain verb. lt helps state an actionor show time. A sentence can havemore than one helping verb.Rita was smiling.I should have done my homework.

A regular verb ends in -ed whenstating a past action or when usinga helping verb.I cooked yesterday.I have cooked.

An irregular verb does not end in -ed.

I wrote yesterday.I have written.

I think I willgo fon

o wolk todog.

@The Education Center, lnc. . Learning Library . Reading, Spelling, & Grammar. TEC3734

Page 12: RSG Parent's Handbook

Parts of Speech

@The Education Center, lnc.. Leaming Library. Reading, Spelling, & Grammar.TEC3734

Tense is the time of the verb. Comparative: Our house is

A present tense verb states an action bigger than Uncle Joe'sthat is happening now or happens apartment.regularly. Superlative; Our house is theI cook dinner at 6:30 each night. biggest house on the block.

A past tense verb states an action Adverbsthat has already happened. An adverb is a word that describes aTina bought a vase last week. verb, an adjective, or another adverb.

Describing a verb: The ballerinaA future tense verb states an action dances gracefully.that will happen. Describing an adjective: My dad isGrandfather will vrsif next week. extremely tall.

Describing an adverb: My dog ranPronouns incredibly quickly.A pronoun is a word that is used inplace of a noun. PrepositionsSubject pronouns.'1, he, she, it, we, A preposition is a word that shows

they, you the relationship of one word in aObject pronouns.' me, you, him, her, it, sentence to another word. lt can

us, them lell location, direction, time, andPossessive pronoLtns: my, mine, your, relationship.

yours, his, her, hers, its, our, ours, Location: My dad stood outsidethe car.their, theirs Direction: My dad walked towardlhe

car.Adjectives Time: My dad waited untill 1 :00 toAn adjective is a word that describes wash the car.a noun or pronoun. lt usually tells whal Relationship: My dad washed the carkind, how many, or which one. with Brian.Demonstrative: Ihis dress is my

favorite.Proper: Dad love s Chinese food.Positive: Our houseis big.

Page 13: RSG Parent's Handbook

Sentence SkillsSentencesA sentence is a group of words thatexpress a complete thought. lt has asubject and a predicate.

The subject tells what the sentenceis about. lt is either a noun, a pronoun,or a noun phrase.The catjumped from the porch.

The predicate of a sentence tellswhat the subject does, did, is, or was.The cat jumped from the porch.

A simple subject is the main nounor pronoun that tells what or whom thesentence is about.That red dress is so beautiful.

A simple predicate is the verb in thecomplete predicate. lt can be morethan one word.Megan drew a great picture.Our teacher has been reading a

terrific book.

A compound subject is made up oftwo or more simple subjects.Kia and Sydney went surfing Friday.

A compound predicate is made upof two or more simple predicates.Sue danced and sang in our

musical.

Kinds of SentencesA declarative sentence makes astatement and ends with a period.Lots of people attended today's

concert.

An imperative sentence gives acommand and ends with a period.Please close the door behind you.

An interrogative sentence asks aquestion and ends with a questionmark.When did you buy your tickets?

An exclamatory sentence expressesstrong emotions or feelings and endswith an exclamation point.I can't believe I actually won/

Sentence ErrorsA sentence fragment is a group ofwords that is missing the subject, mainverb, or both. lt does not express acomplete thought.Missing subject: Flapped loudly.Missing verb: The curtains of my

bedroom window.Missing subject and verb: Because of

the wind.

A run-on sentence is two or moresentences joined together without thecorrect punctuation or conjunction.We were so busy today the yard had to

be mowed flowers had to be planted.

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t@The Education Center, lnc.. Learning Library. Reading, Spelling, & Grammar.TEC3734

Page 14: RSG Parent's Handbook

Use a period. at the end of a declarative

sentence-a sentence that makesa statementI enjoy playing basketball.

. at the end of an imperativesentence-a sentence that makesa requestPlease bring me that measuring cup.

. after a person's initialsA. J. Wydell

. after an abbreviationMrs. JonesDr. Mclntosh

Use a question mark. at the end of an interrogative

sentence-a sentence that asks aquestionWhat number does Mike Smithwear?

Use an exclamation pointo to express

strong feelingor emotionOuch!Leave me alone!Wow!

Use quotation marks. to show a direct quotation

Jennifer said, "l am going to the

movies with Carrie.". to show the titles of written

works-poems, stories, or songs"America the Beautiful"

Use an apostrophe. to show that one or more letters

have been left out to form acontractioncan't-can notwon't-will notdon't-do not

. to show possessionCarolyn's keys are in the car.

The boys' game was over an hour

ago.

Use a hyphen. to divide a word between

syllables at the end of a lineThe automobile sales-man is named Mr. Sears.

. to ioin parts of some compoundwordsdrive-in, father-in-law

. to write two-word number wordsfrom 21 through 99twenty-one

Punctuation Rules

@The Education Center, lnc.. Learning Library. Reading, Spelling, & GrammarTEC3TS4

Page 15: RSG Parent's Handbook

marks

Having crossed the bridge of picture books and chapter books, your fifth

grader will now be asked to master more lengthy fiction and nonfiction selec-

tions. Your child's reading success depends largely on a greater self-

awareness of the various reading strategies that will help him or her be an

active, thinking reader.

Fifth-grade teachers encourage their students to select reading material on

their individual reading levels. Students may read independently, in pairs, or

in small groups. They will be asked to discuss and respond to their reading in

a varietylf ways: in conferences with the teacher, literature circles, written

assignments in question-and-answer formats, paragraphs, essays, and

reports.

your child's teacher will model and guide students through various reading

experiences. These guided reading experiences focus on specific compre-

hension strategies through repeated readings and discussions. Fifth graders

will be asked to tfrint< in a variety of ways about the text they read: answering

literal or recall questions and thinking more critically by making inferences,judgments, and evaluations.

your fifth grader will encounter specific reading comprehension skills such as the following:. Making and confirming predictions about text using prior knowledge and information in

the text, including illustrations, titles, topic sentences, and important vocabulary. Reading for detail. Recalling sequence of events. Determining cause and effect. Using context clues. Making inferences and drawing conclusions. Comparing and contrasting ideas. Paraphrasing and summarizing key elements and ideas. Analyzing character, setting, plot, and theme

What strategies can you foster to help your fifth grader become a more successful reader?

Have your child practice the following:. Read a variety of texts, both fiction and nonfiction, and read often.. Focus before reading. Scan the material, looking at titles, illustrations, and captions.

Think about what you already know about the topic and what you want to know about

the topic.. Be an active thinker while reading text. Ask and answer questions. Periodically stop and

summarize what was just read. Focus on details about the characters, setting, events,

and any themes or messages. ldentify and define key vocabulary and how it felates to

what is being read.. After reading, work on summing it all up. Ask questions such as "What did I learn that I

didn't know before? lf I had to tell someone about what I just read, what would I say?

What do I think was the author's purpose in writing this selection, or what is the mes-

sage he or she is trying to conveY?"

To further your child's reading development, try the activities and ideas on the pages that

follow.

Page 16: RSG Parent's Handbook

Reading on the RunEncourage reading comprehension everywhere you go by questioning your

child about signs, posters, billboards, video covers, and musical lyrics on the radiowhile you drive. "Reading on the Run" merely requires simple comprehensionquestions from you, such as "What was that billboard advertising?" or "What wasthe main point of that song we just heard?" You'll be surprised by how muchconfidence simple reading comprehension activities can build in your child.

Restaurant ReadingHere's another opportunity for real-life reading comprehension that ties in with

your fifth grader's increasing appetite. Take time at fast-food restaurants, diners,pizzerias, and ice-cream parlors to question your child about the menu. Questionsabout fat content, pricing, side dishes, and other "restaurant reading" are easilyanswered by your child and help develop reading-for-detail skills.

What |f...?For a time filler that will reinforce predicting skills and is anything buf run-of-the-

mill, have your child ponder "What if..." questions. Think of questions that wouldinspire your child to imagine what the world might have been like if specific his-toric events had turned out differently. For example, what if Columbus had sailedeast instead of west? Or if Benjamin Franklin hadn't flown his kite and discoveredelectricity? Write each question on a different index card. Whenever you have alittle extra time, pull out a card to read aloud. Have your child respond orally to thequestion or write a three- to four-sentence answer on the index card.What if ...your child asks to do this activity again and again?

"TYi" a New AngleChallenge your child to try a new angle on summarizing

with the following idea! Guide your child in choosing onecurrent-events article from the newspaper each week. Afterreading the article, direct him to summarize his story in theform of the pattern shown. Afterward, have your child cut outhis triangles and glue them to slighfly larger constructionpaper cutouts.

When? (3 wordo)

Where? (4 worda)

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Page 17: RSG Parent's Handbook

Reading quality children's literature adds to a fifth grader's sense of independence. Since thebooks of fourth grade may no longer be a challenge, your fifth grader will most likely welcomenew and exciting books he can read for himself, at his own pace, and for pleasure!

ln fifth grade, your child will learn to' identify different genres of literature, including fiction (historical fiction, realistic fiction, fan-

tasy, humor, mystery, and adventure), nonfiction (informational books, biographies, diaries,etc.), and poetry

' read a variety of literature, including fiction and nonfiction, folklore (tall tales, folktales, andlegends), plays, and various forms of poetry

The list on page 111 is just a fraction of recommended literature for children in fifth grade.Compiled by librarians, teachers, publishers, and well-respected reviewers, this list has some ofthe most beloved classics-both old and new-your child is sure to find engaging, entertaining,and educational. From heart-pounding adventures to tear-jerking coming-of-age tales, the bookson this abbreviated list are some of the best written, for any age.

But don't stop there. Explore the appropriate sections of your local bookstore or library. Talkto reference librarians, teachers, or friends to discover new selections to add to your list. Betteryet, explore the shelves yourself!After all, you know your child's likes and dislikes, interests andhobbies, and hopes and dreams better than anyone else. Look below for some ways to add toyour child's and your own reading list!

Book Glub Wish ListBook clubs are a wonderful way to build your child's home library in an affordable and timely

manner. When your child brings home those monthly paperback book club forms, look overthem together. Let your child create a wish list of several books each month. Depending on yourbudget, order all of them on his wish list-or just one! Either way, your child will be choosingbooks you know he will like, and they'll be his to keep-forever.

Get Carded!A library card is a wonderful way to begin your child's adventure in reading-for freel Make

library day a weekly adventure, and return and check out books as often as possible. Makingtrips to the library fun and enjoyable, rather than a chore, is one sure way to make it a populardestination.

Get Gifted!Make children's literature a part of holiday and birthday gift giving from now on. Whether it's

your child's favorite author in hardcover or a paperback biography of his favorite sports star, yourchild will come to expect-and enjoy-books as gifts. This is a great way to slowly but surelybuild a personal library for your child while developing a lifetime habit of reading.

110 @The Education cenler, lnc.. Learning Libra4P. Reading, spelling, & Grammar-TEcg7g4

Page 18: RSG Parent's Handbook

112

Some fifth graders just don't get excited about the prospecl of reading. With all thedistractions of video games, TV, movies, and sports, how can anything as simple asreading a book compare? While every student must read various textbooks in class andfor homework, many students feel that time off from school means time off from reading.Parents can help by making books accessible and attractive!

To ensure that your household is reader friendly, here are a few questions you canask yourself:

. Are there books on your nightstands and coffee tables?

. Does the number of TVs outweigh bookshelves?

. ls there a dictionary in the house?

. Does every family member have his or her own library card?

Motivating a fifth-grade reader is not as challenging as you might think. Childrenoften take their cues on such matters from their peer and family groups. ll you considerreading a chore, it may be hard to get your child to read as time goes by. So let yourchild see you reading! Read all kinds of materials! Read together and discuss whatyou are reading. Go to a movie and read the book!

Below are a few ways to get your child to read more often and enjoy doing so.

Any Wsrds VtJill DsWho says that all reading has to come from a book? Encourage your child to read by

starting small. Sports magazines, comic books, trading cards, and even the backs ofcereal boxes are all steps in motivating your child to read more. For a reluctant reader,any words devoured throughout the day are a small victory in the war against reluctantreading.

The Famlly That Reads Together...Get the family involved by making reading a household, or family, activity. Turn otf

the TV one weeknight, and pull out a good book to read aloud to your fifth grader. Aftera while, let him read to you. Make the night a weekly tradition, and your child's interestin reading may grow by leaps and bounds.

Movie Madness!Many fifth graders need just a small push to turn reading into a fully blossomed passion.

Why not take note of the movies or TV shows your child enjoys so much?'Then checkout or purchase the novelization of that movie or TV series and present it to your child.The motivation to read will already be there, as will the interest level. So taking the firststep is often as easy as going to the movies!

@The Education Center, lnc.. Leaming Libranf . Reading, Spelling, & Grammar.TE03734

Fifth.Grade Parent Page

Page 19: RSG Parent's Handbook

Fifth.Grade Reading List

@The Education Center, lnc.. Learning Librarya. Reading, Spetling, & Grammar.TEC}T}

The BFG by Roald DahlThe Boggarl by Susan CooperCatherine, Called Birdy by Karen CushmanThe Cay by Theodore TaylorCharlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald DahlThe Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley SnyderFrom the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiterby E. L. KonigsburgThe Giver by Lois LowryThe Great Brain by John D. FitzgeraldHatchet by Gary PaulsenHomesick: My Own Sto4r by Jean FritzThe House With a Clock in lts Walls by John BellairsThe Human Body (Eyewitness Explorers series) by Steve parkerln the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Bao Lordlsland of the Blue Dolphinsby Scott O'DellJulie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead GeorgeThe Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. LewisManiac Magee by Jerry SpinelliMaftin Luther Kingby Rosemary BrayMy Life in Dog Years by Gary PaulsenMy Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead GeorgeThe Pinbal/s by Betsy ByarsPoppy by AviRedwall by Brian JacquesRoll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. TaylorThe Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson BurnettShiloh by Phyllis Reynolds NaylorSing Down the Moon by Scott O'DellSnow Treasure by Marie McswiganSoup by Robert Newton PeckStone Foxby John Reynolds GardinerThere's a Boy in the Girls'Bathroom by Louis SacharTo Walk the Sky Pathby Phyllis Reynolds NaylorThe True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by AviTuck Everlasting by Natalie BabbittWalk Two Moons by Sharon CreechThe Westing Game by Ellen Raskin