5th Grade English Lessons and Instructional Activities

Helping Your Child Master 5th Grade English

5th Grade English/Language Arts Requirements

Depending on where you live and what kind of school your child attends, 5th grade reading and language arts requirements can vary a bit. However, there are likely to be strong similarities from program to program. Ask your child's school or check out your state's Department of Education website for specific information.

By the end of the 5th grade, your child will be required to know different genres of literature, such as poetry, drama, novels, essays and short stories. Your child will be expected to read texts fluently, as well as analyze and think critically about them. Fifth graders also compare and contrast different texts and recognize various literary elements and devices.

Reading Comprehension and Fluency

Comprehension and fluency lessons are integral to your child's ability to read. Reading comprehension is a gauge of how well your child can understand and interpret texts. A good way to help improve your 5th grader's comprehension is by reading the same book he or she is reading. After each chapter, create a number of questions for your child about events, character motivations and tone. Ask your child to predict what will happen next.

Fluency is how smoothly and uninterrupted your child can read a text. A good way to improve fluency is by having him or her repeatedly read passages aloud until mastery is achieved. Sight words are words that are instantly recognized, and the more that your child knows, the smoother a reader he or she is likely to be. Write common 5th grade sight words on flash cards and use them to quiz your 5th grader.

Mastering Writing

By the end of the 5th grade, your child will often be expected to write clearly and from a unique standpoint. This is largely accomplished through consistent practice. Create word lists of vocabulary that your child has recently learned. Have your child write sentences or even paragraphs using these words. Allow him or her to be creative so that writing exercises such as this don't get boring or stale.

Getting Ready for Tests

There are many kinds of English tests that your child may be required to take; however, standardized English/language arts tests are probably the most common. The majority of standardized exams consist of written passages followed by multiple-choice questions. They tend to cover 5th grade comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, spelling and punctuation. Administer practice exams to your child in the days and weeks leading up to such a test. Go over the results with your child and focus on the areas where he or she needs the most work.