Fifth Grade Reading Activities & Curriculum Standards

Fifth Grade Reading – What are the Standards and Curriculum?

Fifth grade reading activities provide an opportunity for children to describe and connect essential ideas, arguments, and perspectives by using their knowledge of text structure, organization, and purpose. At this level, students learn through guided reading, reading worksheets, language arts games, and many creative methods that make the fifth grade reading program fun for them.

Your child’s literacy skills will progress forward through the use of Time4Learning’s highly developed curriculum combined with hands on activities. Positive reinforcement and solid assessment techniques will enable them with the support to achieve their goals.

Utilizing a comprehensive reading curriculum, Time4Learning creates a strong foundation for your fifth grader in the following language arts strands:

Vocabulary Development

A fifth grade reading program includes vocabulary and concept development, along with word recognition. Greater levels of comprehension and understanding are achievable with a growing bank of vocabulary knowledge.

With Time4Learning’s fifth grade reading curriculum your child will be taught to:

• Apply and expand grade level appropriate vocabulary
• Deepen study of Greek and Latin roots
• Determine the meaning of specialized vocabulary using prior knowledge of word origins and word relationships, as well as historical and literary context clues
• Expand vocabulary through study of synonyms, antonyms, homonyms, prefixes, suffixes, homophones, and idioms

Reading Comprehension

Our fifth grade reading program uses a combination of guided reading and independent reading exercises for children to be able to display their understanding of the material presented. Students are challenged to summarize, predict, visualize, clarify, and understand scaffolding to enhance reading comprehension.

The fifth grade reading level is improved using reading comprehension strategies. Time4Learning fifth grade students will learn to:

• Understand how text features, (format, graphics, sequence, diagrams, illustrations, charts, and maps), make information accessible and usable
• Analyze text organized in sequential or chronological order
• Discern main ideas and concepts presented by authors
• Identify and assess supportive evidence of main themes
• Describe and connect essential ideas, arguments, and perspectives by using their knowledge of text structure, organization, and purpose
• Detect sequential order, fact and opinion, cause and effect, author’s purpose, inferences, and comparing and contrasting story elements

Language Arts & Reading Comprehension

Language Arts maintains a central role within Time4Learning’s fifth grade reading curriculum. This section contains learning activities that are primarily based on vocabulary skills, fluency, and comprehension. Fifth graders will learn to generate ideas, demonstrate comprehension of a theme, create graphic organizers and write creatively. Interactive lessons and activities keep students engaged in the learning process.

Your fifth grade child will learn to:

• Use word origins to determine the meaning of unknown words
• Explain frequently used synonyms, antonyms, and homographs
• Analyze the meaning of complex words through the study of abstract, derived roots and affixes from Greek and Latin
• Distinguish the figurative and metaphorical use of words in context
• Use grade appropriate vocabulary
• Apply comprehension strategies to a variety of literary genres
• Use grade appropriate vocabulary
• Practice the conventions of spelling and proper grammar usage
• Use adverbs and construct singular and plural nouns through direct instruction and interactive practice

Literary Response

Literary response and analysis is another critical element of Time4Learning’s fifth grade reading program using age-appropriate reading material. Students will execute a narrative examination of reading skill appropriate text. Traditional tales, historical fiction, fables, poetry, Greek mythology, and historical documents are used to recognize and experience the fact that literature is used as a record of human experience.

Time4Learning’s fifth grade reading students will learn to:

• Identify and analyze the characteristics of poetry, drama, fiction, and nonfiction, and explain the appropriateness of the literary forms chosen by an author for each specific purpose
• Discern the main conflict or issue found within the plot and identify the resolution
• Contrast actions and motives such as loyalty, selfishness, conscientiousness
• Observe the primary characteristics (appearance; demeanor) used to describe main characters in works of fiction and analyze how these may tie in with the theme(s)
• Describe the function and effect of common literary devices (imagery, metaphor, symbolism)
• Evaluate the meaning of archetypal patterns and symbols that are found in myth and tradition by using literature from different eras and cultures
• Gauge the author’s use of various techniques such as the appeal of characters in a picture book, logic and credibility of plots and settings, and use of figurative language to influence readers’ perspectives

*Reading Standards are defined by each state. Time4Learning bases its use of reading standards on the national bodies that recommend curriculum and standards and the interpretations of it by a sampling of states notably Florida, Texas, and California.

Writing Applications & Reading Strategy

Time4Learning’s fifth graders will find more challenging writing assignments throughout their course of study. Each will build upon their mounting vocabulary and grammar knowledge. Lessons focus on paragraph writing, letter writing, research reports, and composition writing.

Your fifth grade child will be taught to:

• Write the four types of sentences (declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory) through the use of learning activities
• Craft a paragraph using topic and supporting sentences
• Create an outline to organize information
• Compose a persuasive letter and cite sources in a research report
• Use story elements to write a composition in literal and figurative language
• Distinguish between first and third person point of view.
• Edit and revise their work

Speaking is another fundamental ingredient of language arts. Students develop proficiency in speaking and listening through interactive assignments. Time4Learning incorporates this strand within the fifth grade reading strategy by training students to:

• Read narrative and expository text aloud, fluently and accurately, and with appropriate pacing, intonation, and expression
• Demonstrate control of expression while speaking publicly
• Express their opinions respectfully
• Demonstrate effective listening skills through summarizing speeches or lectures, and give and follow detailed directions

You can witness your child growing in confidence and proficiency with Time4Learning. The ability to move at the pace of your individual child will help secure their foundational literacy skills for a lifetime!

Additional Resources Related to Fifth Grade Reading

Fifth-Grade ELA & Spelling Resources

If you’re interested in fifth-grade language arts lessons and spelling lists, you may also be interested in:

• Fifth-Grade Language Arts Lesson Plans
• Strategies to achieve 5th-grade reading goals
• Vocabulary and spelling words for 5th grade

Online Curriculum for Homeschool, Afterschool and Summer Use

If you are just learning about Time4Learning, we’d suggest first learning more about how the Time4Learning online curriculum works and looking at our interactive lesson demos.

Sign up for Time4Learning and gain access to a variety of educational materials, which will engage and challenge your child to succeed. Make Time4Learning a part of your children’s homeschool resources success.