Reading Curriculum

We've said it elsewhere, but it bears repeating: the foundation of a good education is the ability to read well. This isn't just reading for content, though that's certainly part of it; reading well entails the ability to read for information, analyze that information, and connect it with other knowledge and texts to form original ideas. This doesn't just come, it requires lots of practice and plenty of guidance, but the rewards are tangible.

Young students aren't ready for the more advanced levels of reading right off. They need to have time to master the basics, like identifying the plot in a story, understanding characters' emotions, remembering details, and even simply retaining facts. The only way to help them toward this goal is to have them read, and then quiz and test them on what they read.

The Charlotte Mason approach to education is really built on this principle. At first, students simply copy texts word-for-word, then they take dictation, then they learn to compose their own essays, at each stage proving they've retained the original material by answering questions about it. While there aren't a lot of "Charlotte Mason reading programs" out there, many of the ones we carry follow generally this same process, though without the copywork and dictation.

Here is a quick summary of the Reading curricula we offer, in alphabetical order:

A Beka Reading Grades K-6

A Beka Reading includes readers and teacher guides/answer keys. Timed Read & Think worksheets are also available: students read a short text and answer comprehension questions against a stopwatch. Like the CLP series, these are very focused on Christian virtue and morality.

BJU Reading Grades K-8

BJU Reading uses textbooks rather than readers, along with workbooks, flipcharts, etc. The teacher's guides act as answer keys, with plenty of information for presenting concepts and relating stories to real life. These books are a bridge from the phonics curriculum to BJU Literature.

CLE Reading to Learn Series Grades K-8

Most reading courses are straightforward, with a basic "read, reflect, respond" pattern. The CLE Reading to Learn Series is an exception. Less thorough but just as good as comparable programs, the CLE readers are fairly lengthy and include full-color illustrations, with character-building stories.

CLP Readers Grades K-8

The CLP Readers aren't a unified reading course. Rather, they're a number of independent readers, all designed to encourage reading practice and comprehension while promoting Christian virtue. The Nature Readers are a customer favorite, though all of them have strengths and weaknesses.

McGuffey's Readers Grades K-12

You can't really go wrong with McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks. The readers are standards of character-building, instructive material. Sections are short and illustrated, and the workbooks (a newer addition) include two-page lessons with comprehension questions.

Pathway Readers Grades K-8

The ever-popular Pathway Readers series offers solidly Christian virtue-centered readers with slim workbooks to teach comprehension. Pathway Readers are easy to get through, but somewhat bland with sparse black and white illustration and repetitive exercises.

Rod & Staff Phonics & Reading Grades K-9

Rod & Staff Phonics & Reading is similar to the Pathway Readers, but more thorough. Each level consists of a number of readers and workbooks, along with a teacher's guide. Stories are character- and Bible-based, illustrations are black and white, and the course is largely student-directed.

A lot of folks simply have their kids read books and then discuss what they've read afterwards. This is a fine approach, one which we actually encourage in later grades, but these reading programs are designed for younger students and probably better suited to elementary kids, in a lot of instances at least. Some kids don't need the structure; others do.

Remember that the point isn't for them to get a good grade or even pass a standardized test. The goal of reading instruction is to form young people who can think and connect knowledge received from disparate sources. These programs are just one step in that process, albeit a very important one that cannot be skipped. Peruse our reviews to find the one that best fits your needs and those of your students.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.
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118 Items found Print
Active Filters: 4th grade (Ages 9-10)
Adventures in Other Lands
A Beka Reading 4
3rd edition from A Beka Books
for 4th grade
in A Beka Reading (Location: REA-ABK)
$12.00 (2 in stock)
Beginning Reasoning & Reading
by Joanne Carlisle
from Educators Publishing Service
for 3rd-4th grade
in EPS Reasoning & Reading (Location: REACOM-EPS)
$23.49
Beginning Reasoning & Reading - Teacher's Guide / Answer Key
by Joanne Carlisle
from Educators Publishing Service
for 3rd-4th grade
in EPS Reasoning & Reading (Location: REACOM-EPS)
$23.89
Beyond the Code Book 3
by Nancy Hall
from Educators Publishing Service
for 2nd-4th grade
in Explode the Code (Location: PHO-ETC)
$13.09
Beyond the Code Book 4
by Nancy Hall
from Educators Publishing Service
for 2nd-4th grade
in Explode the Code (Location: PHO-ETC)
$13.09
Boys and Girls of Colonial Days
by Carolyn Bailey
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 4th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$9.50 $6.50 (1 in stock)
Bridges Beyond
CLE Reading
by Ruth K. Hobbs
from Christian Light Education
for 4th grade
in Christian Light Reading (Location: REA-CLE)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Building Our Lives
by Pathway
from Pathway Publishers
for 4th grade
in Pathway Readers (Location: REA-PATH)
$11.00
Building Our Lives - Teacher Edition
by Pathway
from Pathway Publishers
for 4th grade
in Pathway Readers (Location: REA-PATH)
$6.50 $3.50 (2 in stock)
Building Our Lives - Workbook
by Pathway
from Pathway Publishers
for 4th grade
in Pathway Readers (Location: REA-PATH)
$3.50 $2.00 (1 in stock)
Children of the Covered Wagon
by Mary Jane Carr
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
Historical Fiction for 3rd-5th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$16.75
Christian Liberty Nature Reader Book 4
by Paul Lindstrom & Edward Shewan
3rd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 4th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$13.35
Christian Liberty Nature Reader Book 4 - Answer Key
by Edward Shewan
3rd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 4th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$5.30
Christian Liberty Nature Reader set
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for Kindergarten-5th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
Christian Liberty Nature Reader set
3rd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for Kindergarten-5th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$62.28
Christian Light Reading 4 - Answer Key
CLE Reading to Learn
Sunrise 2nd Edition from Christian Light Education
for 4th grade
in Christian Light Reading (Location: REA-CLE)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Christian Light Reading 4 - Quizzes and Tests Answer Key
CLE Reading to Learn
Sunrise 2nd Edition from Christian Light Education
for 4th grade
in Christian Light Reading (Location: REA-CLE)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Christian Light Reading 4 Bridges Beyond - Teacher's Guide (with Answers)
CLE Reading
Sunrise 2nd Edition from Christian Light Education
for 4th grade
in Christian Light Reading (Location: REA-CLE)
$8.50 (1 in stock)
Classic Curriculum Reading Grade 4, Book 1
from Mott Media
for 4th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Classic Curriculum Reading Grade 4, Book 2
from Mott Media
for 4th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
Classic Curriculum Reading Grade 4, Book 3
from Mott Media
for 4th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
Classic Curriculum Reading Grade 4, Book 4
from Mott Media
for 4th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
Classic Curriculum Writing Grade 4, Book 1
from Mott Media
for 4th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Classic Curriculum Writing Grade 4, Book 3
from Mott Media
for 4th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
Classic Curriculum Writing Grade 4, Book 4
from Mott Media
for 4th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
Critical Conditioning
by Kathryn Stout
from Design-A-Study
for All grades
in Design-A-Study (Location: HSR-DAS)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Daily Reading Comprehension, Grade 4
from Evan-Moor Educational Publishers
for 4th grade
in Evan-Moor Reading Comprehension (Location: ZCLE-EM)
Early Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Book C
by Jane Ervin
from Educators Publishing Service
for 3rd-4th grade
$15.89
Early Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Book D
by Jane Ervin
from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th grade
$15.89
Eclectic Second Reader
Original McGuffey's
by William McGuffey
Facsimile editions. from Mott Media
for 2nd-4th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Eclectic Third Reader
Original McGuffey's
by William McGuffey
from Mott Media
for 3rd-5th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
$8.00 (2 in stock)
Fables and Folk Tales
A Beka Reading 4f
from A Beka Books
for 4th grade
in A Beka Reading (Location: REA-ABK)
Fables and Folk Tales - Teacher Edition
A Beka Reading 4f
from A Beka Books
for 4th grade
in A Beka Reading (Location: REA-ABK)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Finding a New Land
from Christian Liberty Press
for 4th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$17.85
Finding a New Land - Answer Key
from Christian Liberty Press
for 4th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$5.30 $2.50 (2 in stock)
Finding a New Land - Test Packet
from Christian Liberty Press
for 4th grade
in CLP Phonics & Reading (Location: REA-CLP)
$5.30 $2.50 (1 in stock)
Gifts and Gadgets
A Beka Reading 4g
1st edition from A Beka Books
for 4th grade
in A Beka Reading (Location: REA-ABK)
Gifts and Gadgets - Teacher Edition
A Beka Reading 4g
from A Beka Books
for 4th grade
in A Beka Reading (Location: REA-ABK)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Harvey's Elementary Grammar and Composition
Harvey's Language Course
by Thos. W. Harvey
from Mott Media
for 4th-8th- grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
$15.00 $8.00 (1 in stock)
Harvey's Elementary Grammar and Composition - Answer Key
Harvey's Language Course
by Thos. W. Harvey
from Mott Media
for 4th-8th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
$4.00 (2 in stock)
Harvey's Revised English Grammar
Harvey's Language Course
by Thos. W. Harvey
from Mott Media
for 4th-8th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
$17.50 $10.00 (2 in stock)
Harvey's Revised English Grammar - Answer Key
Harvey's Language Course
by Thos. W. Harvey
from Mott Media
for 4th-8th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
$4.50 $3.00 (1 in stock)
How to Report on Books Grades 3-4
from Evan-Moor Educational Publishers
for 3rd-4th grade
in Evan-Moor Literature & Poetry (Location: ZCLE-EM)
$9.00 (2 in stock)
How to Report on Books Grades 5-6
by Jill Norris
from Evan-Moor Educational Publishers
for 4th-6th grade
in Evan-Moor Literature & Poetry (Location: ZCLE-EM)
$16.99
In His Hands
A Beka Reading 4c
from A Beka Books
for 4th grade
in A Beka Reading (Location: REA-ABK)
In His Hands - Teacher Edition
A Beka Reading 4c
from A Beka Books
for 4th grade
in A Beka Reading (Location: REA-ABK)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
McCall-Crabbs Books A-E - Teacher's Guide & Answer Key
by William A. McCall & Lelah Mae Crabbs
from Back Home Industries
for 1st-9th grade
in McCall-Crabbs Reading Comprehension (Location: REACOM-MC)
McCall-Crabbs Comprehension Connection Book 2
from Spalding Education International
for 1st-9th grade
in McCall-Crabbs Reading Comprehension (Location: REACOM-MC)
McCall-Crabbs Comprehension Connection Book 2
from Spalding Education International
for 1st-9th grade
in McCall-Crabbs Reading Comprehension (Location: REACOM-MC)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
McCall-Crabbs Standard Test Lessons in Reading
by William A. McCall & Lelah Mae Crabbs
from Back Home Industries
for 1st-9th grade
in McCall-Crabbs Reading Comprehension (Location: REACOM-MC)
McGuffey Readers - Boxed Set
by William McGuffey & Ruth Beechick
from Mott Media
for Kindergarten-10th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
Mcguffey's Third Eclectic Reader
by William Holmes McGuffey
Revised from American Book Co.
for 3rd-4th grade
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Megawords 1
by Kristin Johnson & Polly Bayrd
2nd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th-10th grade
in Megawords (Location: SPE-MEGA)
$18.49
Megawords 1 - Teacher's Guide and Answer Key
by Kristin Johnson & Polly Bayrd
2nd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th-10th grade
in Megawords (Location: SPE-MEGA)
$25.69
Megawords 3 - Teacher's Guide and Answer Key
by Kristin Johnson & Polly Bayrd
2nd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th-10th grade
in Megawords (Location: SPE-MEGA)
$25.69
Megawords 4
by Kristin Johnson & Polly Bayrd
2nd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th-10th grade
in Megawords (Location: SPE-MEGA)
$18.49
Megawords 4 - Teacher's Guide and Answer Key
by Kristin Johnson & Polly Bayrd
2nd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th-10th grade
in Megawords (Location: SPE-MEGA)
$25.69
Megawords 5
by Kristin Johnson & Polly Bayrd
2nd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th-10th grade
in Megawords (Location: SPE-MEGA)
$18.49
Megawords 5 - Teacher's Guide and Answer Key
by Kristin Johnson & Polly Bayrd
2nd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th-10th grade
in Megawords (Location: SPE-MEGA)
$25.69
Megawords 6
by Kristin Johnson & Polly Bayrd
2nd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th-10th grade
in Megawords (Location: SPE-MEGA)
$18.49
Megawords 6 - Teacher's Guide and Answer Key
by Kristin Johnson & Polly Bayrd
2nd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th-10th grade
in Megawords (Location: SPE-MEGA)
$25.69
Megawords 7
by Kristin Johnson & Polly Bayrd
2nd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th-10th grade
in Megawords (Location: SPE-MEGA)
$18.49 $9.00 (1 in stock)
Megawords 7 - Teacher's Guide and Answer Key
by Kristin Johnson & Polly Bayrd
2nd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th-10th grade
in Megawords (Location: SPE-MEGA)
$25.69
Megawords 8
by Kristin Johnson & Polly Bayrd
2nd edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th-10th grade
in Megawords (Location: SPE-MEGA)
$18.49
Megawords 8 - Teacher's Guide and Answer Key
by Kristin Johnson & Polly Bayrd
121st edition from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th-10th grade
in Megawords (Location: SPE-MEGA)
$25.69
Mosdos Press Literature Ruby - Set
from Mosdos Press
for 4th grade
in Mosdos Press Literature (Location: LITCUR-MOS)
Mosdos Press Literature Ruby - Student Textbook
from Mosdos Press
for 4th grade
in Mosdos Press Literature (Location: LITCUR-MOS)
$43.00 (2 in stock)
Mosdos Press Literature Ruby - Teacher Edition (2 Volumes)
from Mosdos Press
for 4th grade
in Mosdos Press Literature (Location: LITCUR-MOS)
$40.00 (2 in stock)
My New Home
from A Beka Books
for 4th grade
in A Beka Reading (Location: REA-ABK)
Once Upon a Story
A Beka Reading 4a
from A Beka Books
for 4th grade
in A Beka Reading (Location: REA-ABK)
Once Upon a Story - Teacher Edition
A Beka Reading 4a
from A Beka Books
for 4th grade
in A Beka Reading (Location: REA-ABK)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Parent Teacher Guide for Original McGuffey Readers
from Mott Media
for k-4
in McGuffey's Readers & Workbooks (Location: REA-MCG)
Pilgrim's Progress: Christiana's Journey
A Beka Reading 4b
from A Beka Books
for 4th grade
in A Beka Reading (Location: REA-ABK)
Pilgrim's Progress: Christiana's Story - Teacher Edition
A Beka Reading 4b
from A Beka Books
for 4th grade
in A Beka Reading (Location: REA-ABK)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Read & Understand with Leveled Texts, Grade 4
from Evan-Moor Educational Publishers
for 4th grade
in Evan-Moor Reading Comprehension (Location: ZCLE-EM)
Readers in Residence Volume 1
by Debra Bell
from Apologia Educational Ministries
for 4th-6th grade
in Miscellaneous Literature Curriculum (Location: LITCUR-MISC)
$64.00
Readers in Residence Volume 1 - Answer Key
by Debra Bell
from Apologia Educational Ministries
for 4th-6th grade
in Miscellaneous Literature Curriculum (Location: LITCUR-MISC)
$12.00
Reading 4 - Assessments
3rd edition from Bob Jones University Press
for 4th grade
in BJU Reading (Location: REA-BJU)
$19.66 $11.50 (1 in stock)
Reading 4 - Assessments Answer Key
3rd edition from Bob Jones University Press
for 4th grade
in BJU Reading (Location: REA-BJU)
$14.17 $7.50 (1 in stock)
Reading 4 - BJU Subject Kit
3rd edition from Bob Jones University Press
for 4th grade
in BJU Subject Kits (Location: WH-BJUK)
$217.30
Reading 4 - BJU Subject Kit (old)
2nd edition from Bob Jones University Press
for 4th grade
in BJU Reading (Old Editions) (Location: OBJU-REA)
$95.00
Reading 4 - Student Textbook
3rd edition from Bob Jones University Press
for 4th grade
in BJU Reading (Location: REA-BJU)
$75.56 $44.00 (2 in stock)
Reading 4 - Student Worktext
3rd edition from Bob Jones University Press
for 4th grade
in BJU Reading (Location: REA-BJU)
$43.33
Reading 4 - Teacher Edition Set
3rd edition from Bob Jones University Press
for 4th grade
in BJU Reading (Location: REA-BJU)
$106.67
Reading 4 - Worktext Answer Key
3rd edition from Bob Jones University Press
for 4th grade
in BJU Reading (Location: REA-BJU)
$43.33
Reading 4 Answer Key
from A Beka Books
for 4th grade
in A Beka Reading (Location: REA-ABK)
$14.00 (1 in stock)
Reading Comprehension 4
Core Skills Series
from Steck-Vaughn Company
for 4th grade
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$5.00
Reading Comprehension 4 Skill Sheets
1st edition from A Beka Books
for 4th grade
in A Beka Reading (Location: REA-ABK)
$10.50 (2 in stock)
Reading Comprehension 4 Skill Sheets - Parent Edition
from A Beka Books
for 4th grade
in A Beka Reading (Location: REA-ABK)
Reading Comprehension 4 Skill Sheets - Teacher Edition
from A Beka Books
for 4th grade
in A Beka Reading (Location: REA-ABK)
Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Book 1
by Jane Ervin
from Educators Publishing Service
for 3rd-4th grade
$17.29
Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Book 1 - Answer Key
by Jane Ervin
from Educators Publishing Service
for 3rd-4th grade
$5.19
Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Book 2
by Jane Ervin
from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th-5th grade
$17.29
Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter Book 2 - Answer Key
by Jane Ervin
from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th-5th grade
$5.19
Reading Detective Beginning
from Critical Thinking Books
for 3rd-4th grade
in Reading Detective (Location: REACOM-RD)
$25.99
Reading Grade 4
from Kumon Publishing
for 4th grade
in Kumon Reading & Writing (Location: WRI-KUM)
$6.76
Ready Readers - Children's Literature Volume 1
by Missy Andrews
2nd edition from Center for Literary Education
for 1st-6th grade
in Teaching the Classics (Location: LITCUR-TTC)
$29.00
Ready Readers - Elementary Literature Volume 1
by Missy Andrews
2nd edition from Center for Literary Education
for 3rd-8th grade
in Teaching the Classics (Location: LITCUR-TTC)
$29.00
Ready Readers 1 (old)
by Missy Andrews
from Center for Literary Education
for 1st-6th grade
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$19.00
Road Trip East
A Beka Reading 4e
from A Beka Books
for 4th grade
in A Beka Reading (Location: REA-ABK)
12