The coronavirus outbreak has caused many schools to close and kids are now doing all of their learning at home. Parents might be struggling with this sudden shift to homeschooling. However, reading can easily be practiced at home simply by providing your child with lots of reading materials. With this classic 4th grade reading list homeschool can be easier for you and your child.  

How can I get my child to read at home?

Reading is a great way to keep your child learning at home without them even realizing it! Getting your child to read for fun can help them reduce their screen time while they are at home. However, some children might need a little more convincing to read for fun. Here are some tips to get your kids reading at home:

1. Read with them – Reading with your children not only creates a stronger bond with them, but you also give them a good model of reading. Children often follow their parents’ lead and if you show an enthusiasm for reading, they will too. 
2. Set reading goals – By creating concrete reading goals, you set your child up to want to accomplish something. You can also make these goals visual by creating a chart that shows how many books they’ve read and how many they aim to finish reading each week or month. 
3. Family movie night – Many classic books have been turned into movies. This can be a great motivator to get your children to read. As a family, choose a classic book to read together and when you have all finished the book, you can have a family movie night to watch the movie version of the book. This is a great way to help your child’s reading comprehension and enhance their imagination. 
4. Use books as rewards – A great way to motivate kids to read is to use books themselves as a motivator. Instead of rewarding your child with candy or more toys, you can instead let them choose a book to get as a reward for good behavior or good grades. When you put a value on books, your children will as well. 
5. Use a reading app– In order to get your kids reading, you should use a platform they are already familiar with like apps. Reading apps like Readability make reading fun and interactive for kids. Readability specifically creates original content and provides stories at different reading levels.

What can my fourth-grader read?

By fourth grade, your child should be able to read independently. They are now starting to transition from “learning to read” to “reading to learn”. They are using their reading skills to learn about new things. Most children by now have an expansive sight word knowledge, so the focus on vocabulary is mostly on spelling. Your child is able to read longer and more complex texts such as chapter books. They should also be able to:

• Context within a text to be able to guess the meaning of unfamiliar words.
• Use specific examples from a text to explain a character’s actions, thoughts, or motivation. 
• Understands and is able to explain different genres such as poetry, fiction, and non-fiction.
• Make connections between the reading material and prior knowledge.
• Identify, compare, and contrast ideas and perspectives in a text.
• Read with accurate expression, pacing, and comprehension. 

What are the classic 4th-grade books? 

Fourth grade is a great time to be reading with your child. They are now able to read more complex and interesting texts. Here are some classic books to read with your fourth grader:

1. Charlotte’s Web – This classic children’s book is the perfect introduction to chapter books. The story of a girl and her beloved pet pig is great for those looking to share a childhood favorite with their children. 
2. Judy Blume– Judy Blume’s books are all classics for young readers. You likely grew up reading her books, so sharing her stories with your children can help with discussing the stories together. Blume even has a story about a fourth-grader. The Tales of A Fourth Grade Nothing is a great story for your fourth grader to read. 
3. Diary of A Wimpy Kid – This relatively new classic shows your child how reading can not only be interesting but funny as well. 
4. The Lion, Witch, and Wardrobe – The first novel in the classic Chronicles of Narnia series is a great intro to getting your child to read a series. This book is also a great way to enhance your child’s imagination and get them thinking about fantasy worlds filled with creativity. 
5. A Wrinkle in Time – Another fantasy classic, A Wrinkle in Time can transport your child to a new world that can help enhance their own creativity. 
6. Charlie and The Chocolate Factory – This fun classic incorporates moral lessons with fun and fantasy. You can incorporate your child’s love of candy with reading. 
7. Harry Potter Series – Once your child has tackled these other classics, you can get them to start reading the Harry Potter series. While this series is recommended for those in 5th or 6th grade, it could be a good challenge for your 4th grade to try something more advanced.

These classics are must-reads for every 4th grader and now is a perfect time to read them. If you want to provide even more reading materials for your 4th grader, using an app like Readability is a great way to give them never-ending reading material for them to work with.

Readability has a large library of original content at various reading levels and is constantly updating its library with more stories. Being at home for months is likely having an effect on your child’s learning. Giving them different opportunities to learn and have fun at the same time is essential to get them through this difficult and stressful time. Start your free trial today!