Please recommend reading and vocabulary books for a 4th grader

[Anonymous]

As an immigrant family, we don't speak English at home. I see that Fairfax County schools don't provide text books. Our children do read but I want to give them grammar, vocabulary and reading comprehension practices to do. Could you please kindly recommend some vocabulary and reading workbooks or series that have worked well for your children or students, especially 2nd and 4th graders? Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

The best way for students to learn vocabulary is through reading at their level. Have your children keep a journal of unfamiliar words that they encounter while reading. In the journal they should write a definition, a synonym, and an antonym. Using the word in a sentence and creating a drawing to represent the word’s definition are also helpful for remembering it in the long term.

A commonly used vocabulary textbook is Wordly Wise. However, if students do not read, write, and speak the words that they study, they are likely to forget them as quickly as they learned them.

FCPS schools I have observed do have a vocabulary program that is based on word roots. It is an effective way of learning a lot of words quickly and remembering them. While students do not have textbooks, they do keep detailed journals in the upper elementary grades. This program of word study also explores common spelling patterns.

[Anonymous]

+1 to reading.

Agree about worldly wise for a vocabulary workbook.

[Anonymous]

Thank you both for the recommendation of Wordly Wise. I will look for it. My children do read but they have hardly learned/momorized any new words. It's good to know there is a word study program in upper elementary.

Anonymous wrote:The best way for students to learn vocabulary is through reading at their level. Have your children keep a journal of unfamiliar words that they encounter while reading. In the journal they should write a definition, a synonym, and an antonym. Using the word in a sentence and creating a drawing to represent the word’s definition are also helpful for remembering it in the long term.

A commonly used vocabulary textbook is Wordly Wise. However, if students do not read, write, and speak the words that they study, they are likely to forget them as quickly as they learned them.

FCPS schools I have observed do have a vocabulary program that is based on word roots. It is an effective way of learning a lot of words quickly and remembering them. While students do not have textbooks, they do keep detailed journals in the upper elementary grades. This program of word study also explores common spelling patterns.

[Anonymous]

I’m the PP who mentioned Wordly Wise above. It’s fine. But to be clear, I strongly recommend taking vocabulary out of your children’s reading instead of using an textbook. Children usually do not retain lists of memorized vocabulary words.

[Anonymous]

There are SAT cartoon books on Amazon. My child loves them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are SAT cartoon books on Amazon. My child loves them.

Thanks from OP. I will check it out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As an immigrant family, we don't speak English at home. I see that Fairfax County schools don't provide text books. Our children do read but I want to give them grammar, vocabulary and reading comprehension practices to do. Could you please kindly recommend some vocabulary and reading workbooks or series that have worked well for your children or students, especially 2nd and 4th graders? Thanks in advance.

The 180 Days series is nicely correlated to Common Core requirements. Get the ones for reading, writing, and language.

The full title is 180 Days of Reading, etc.

The fourth grade books are by Margot Kinsberg. They have similar ones for 2nd grade. Check it out on Amazon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an immigrant family, we don't speak English at home. I see that Fairfax County schools don't provide text books. Our children do read but I want to give them grammar, vocabulary and reading comprehension practices to do. Could you please kindly recommend some vocabulary and reading workbooks or series that have worked well for your children or students, especially 2nd and 4th graders? Thanks in advance.

The 180 Days series is nicely correlated to Common Core requirements. Get the ones for reading, writing, and language.

The full title is 180 Days of Reading, etc.

The fourth grade books are by Margot Kinsberg. They have similar ones for 2nd grade. Check it out on Amazon.

Thank you, PP. I have just heard of Vocabulary Workshop and thought of adding to the list.

[Anonymous]

Much better to have kids read what they are interested and challenge them to find words they don't know (make a game, reward per every 10 unknown words, whatever) and use those as the list. They will have seen it in context. Vocabulary learned from lists is forgotten SO easily and often used improperly. Also, encourage them to put on subtitles/closed captioning when they watch videos/movies--this will help them link visual and spoken words even when they are not technically "reading."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Much better to have kids read what they are interested and challenge them to find words they don't know (make a game, reward per every 10 unknown words, whatever) and use those as the list. They will have seen it in context. Vocabulary learned from lists is forgotten SO easily and often used improperly. Also, encourage them to put on subtitles/closed captioning when they watch videos/movies--this will help them link visual and spoken words even when they are not technically "reading."

Thank you so much. Reward is such a good idea!