According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, "by fourth grade, children are expected to use reading to learn other subjects. For this reason, kids who reach fourth grade without being able to read proficiently are more likely to struggle academically and eventually drop out of school. Low reading proficiency also can reduce earning potential and chances for career success as adults.
Example A
The Monster in the Barn
As Bobby was getting ready for bed, he heard a loud screeching coming from the barn outside. Bobby did not know what was making such a loud noise, and he had trouble falling asleep that night. He was scared that there might be a monster in the barn. When Bobby woke up the next morning, he went to the barn to see what was causing the noise the night before. Bobby was perplexed and could not figure out what would make such noise. That night after dinner, Bobby got a flashlight and headed out to the barn.
“Where are you going?” Bobby’s father asked.
“I am going to find the monster in the barn that made so much noise last night,” Bobby replied.
“If you are going to look for a monster, you might need some company,” Bobby’s dad said, and he walked with Bobby out to the barn.
Bobby shined his flashlight into the dark barn but did not see anything. Bobby called out but nothing answered. He walked into the barn but still did not see a monster.
“What did this monster sound like?” Bobby’s dad asked.
“It was a loud screeching noise,” Bobby said, “and it was coming from the barn.”
Bobby’s dad began to laugh and he took the flashlight from Bobby. Shining the flashlight up at the roof of the barn, Bobby and his dad saw a small brown owl in the rafters of the roof.
“It was only a barn owl that you heard last night,” Bobby’s dad said. “They are nocturnal hunters, so that is why you only heard him at night.”
Bobby was happy that it wasn’t a monster, and he thanked his dad as they walked back to the house. Just then they heard a loud screech and looked up to see the barn owl flying away into the night sky.
Source: North Carolina State, College of Education
Example B
Types of Teeth
Everyone has several different types of teeth. Each type has a unique name and a different purpose. The teeth in the front of your mouth, and the easiest to see, are called incisors. There are four incisors on the top and four on the bottom. Incisors are shaped like tiny chisels with flat ends that are sharp. These teeth are used for cutting and chopping food. They are the first teeth to chew most food we eat. The pointed teeth on either side of your incisors are called canine teeth. People have a total of four canine teeth, two on top and two on the bottom. Because they are pointed and sharp, they are used to tear food.
Next to your canine teeth are the premolars. You have eight premolars in all, four on top and four on the bottom. They have a completely different shape than both the incisors and canines. That is because premolars are bigger, stronger, and have ridges – all of which makes them perfect for crushing and grinding food. Finally, there are your molars. You have eight of these, four on the top and four on the bottom. Molars are the toughest of the teeth. They are wider and stronger than premolars, and they have more ridges. Molars work closely with your tongue to help you swallow food. The tongue sweeps chewed food to the back of your mouth, where the molars grind it until it is mashed up and ready to be swallowed.
By age twenty, four more molars grow in the back of the mouth, one in each corner. These are called the wisdom teeth. People do not need wisdom teeth now, but many years ago these teeth were necessary to help people chew tough plants, which were an important part of the human diet. Now, many people get their wisdom teeth pulled by a dentist, a doctor who takes care of teeth, to keep them from crowding their other teeth.
The next time you eat, pay attention to which teeth do which jobs. Having a cookie? Incisors do a good job of biting into that tasty treat. What about a carrot? Those molars get the job done, not the teeth in front. How about a slice of pizza or a piece of bread? Your canines will help you tear at the food, and your premolars and molars will help you grind up that pepperoni pizza or peanut butter and jelly sandwich. © Jim Cornish
Source: North Carolina State, College of Education
The Monster in the Barn
As Bobby was getting ready for bed, he heard a loud screeching coming from the barn outside. Bobby did not know what was making such a loud noise, and he had trouble falling asleep that night. He was scared that there might be a monster in the barn. When Bobby woke up the next morning, he went to the barn to see what was causing the noise the night before. Bobby was perplexed and could not figure out what would make such noise. That night after dinner, Bobby got a flashlight and headed out to the barn.
“Where are you going?” Bobby’s father asked.
“I am going to find the monster in the barn that made so much noise last night,” Bobby replied.
“If you are going to look for a monster, you might need some company,” Bobby’s dad said, and he walked with Bobby out to the barn.
Bobby shined his flashlight into the dark barn but did not see anything. Bobby called out but nothing answered. He walked into the barn but still did not see a monster.
“What did this monster sound like?” Bobby’s dad asked.
“It was a loud screeching noise,” Bobby said, “and it was coming from the barn.”
Bobby’s dad began to laugh and he took the flashlight from Bobby. Shining the flashlight up at the roof of the barn, Bobby and his dad saw a small brown owl in the rafters of the roof.
“It was only a barn owl that you heard last night,” Bobby’s dad said. “They are nocturnal hunters, so that is why you only heard him at night.”
Bobby was happy that it wasn’t a monster, and he thanked his dad as they walked back to the house. Just then they heard a loud screech and looked up to see the barn owl flying away into the night sky.
Source: North Carolina State, College of Education
Example B
Types of Teeth
Everyone has several different types of teeth. Each type has a unique name and a different purpose. The teeth in the front of your mouth, and the easiest to see, are called incisors. There are four incisors on the top and four on the bottom. Incisors are shaped like tiny chisels with flat ends that are sharp. These teeth are used for cutting and chopping food. They are the first teeth to chew most food we eat. The pointed teeth on either side of your incisors are called canine teeth. People have a total of four canine teeth, two on top and two on the bottom. Because they are pointed and sharp, they are used to tear food.
Next to your canine teeth are the premolars. You have eight premolars in all, four on top and four on the bottom. They have a completely different shape than both the incisors and canines. That is because premolars are bigger, stronger, and have ridges – all of which makes them perfect for crushing and grinding food. Finally, there are your molars. You have eight of these, four on the top and four on the bottom. Molars are the toughest of the teeth. They are wider and stronger than premolars, and they have more ridges. Molars work closely with your tongue to help you swallow food. The tongue sweeps chewed food to the back of your mouth, where the molars grind it until it is mashed up and ready to be swallowed.
By age twenty, four more molars grow in the back of the mouth, one in each corner. These are called the wisdom teeth. People do not need wisdom teeth now, but many years ago these teeth were necessary to help people chew tough plants, which were an important part of the human diet. Now, many people get their wisdom teeth pulled by a dentist, a doctor who takes care of teeth, to keep them from crowding their other teeth.
The next time you eat, pay attention to which teeth do which jobs. Having a cookie? Incisors do a good job of biting into that tasty treat. What about a carrot? Those molars get the job done, not the teeth in front. How about a slice of pizza or a piece of bread? Your canines will help you tear at the food, and your premolars and molars will help you grind up that pepperoni pizza or peanut butter and jelly sandwich. © Jim Cornish
Source: North Carolina State, College of Education