Help with Fourth Grade English Homework

How to Help Your Child with English Homework

Reading

In fourth grade, students begin to read longer books, so your child may need to do some reading at home. If his teacher has provided comprehension questions to go along with the reading, be sure your child reads the questions first. That way, he'll know what to look for when he's reading. Create a quiet area for him to read that's free of distractions. It may even help if you read a book as well.

After he's finished reading, ask your child questions such as 'What was the most exciting part of the chapter?' or 'Which character do you identify with the most?' Making personal connections with the text can help your child become more engaged with the story, so ask him to compare a situation in the text with one that he's experienced in real life.

Comprehension

If your child's teacher provided comprehension questions, make sure your child is referring back to the text when she answers them. It's important that any opinions that she has about the story are grounded in evidence, so you may even want her to find a specific quote in the text that supports her opinion.

Fourth graders must describe characters and settings. If your child is having trouble picturing a character or the setting based on the description in the book, help her draw a picture. First, go through the text and point out instances where a character or setting is described. Read the description aloud to her. After your child has pictured the character or setting in her mind, have her transfer that to the page. Drawing a picture will help your child connect a written description to a physical image.

Writing

In fourth grade, your child may be given an assignment to write an opinion, informative or narrative piece. Although these types of pieces differ dramatically, all must have a clearly-stated main idea. If your child is unsure what to write about, ask him to state his topic in one word or sentence, which will help him gain focus and conciseness in his essay topic.

Next, make sure that your child has included all the necessary parts of the piece. Opinion pieces should present your child's opinion and have evidence to support any claims. Informative essays should have a more formal tone as well as research from credible sources. Finally, narratives should include dialogue and a clear description of the setting and characters.