Students who are learning a new sound or letter combination can play a game that encourages them to pay attention to words in order to catch the key sound. Make a list of words with the sound at the beginning, middle and end. Add some words that don't have the sound at all. Read the sounds slowly and have students repeat the words with the sound in them and cover their mouths when the word you read doesn't have the sound.
Fables are popular with fourth-graders because they are short and have an obvious point at the end. Read several fables to your students, asking them to identify the features that allow each story to be labeled a fable. Have students write their own short fables to share with the class.
A microphone turns reading out loud from a chore into an entertaining activity. Invest in an inexpensive, battery-powered microphone and let students take turns reading into it. Reading aloud gives students the chance to focus on each word individually, rather than skipping ahead as might happen during silent reading. It also allows you to hear where they might be struggling.
The Internet is full of reading and language arts games that students love to play. Make a list of these games and reward students with time on the computer playing them. This makes a good incentive for a reluctant reader who enjoys spending time on the computer. Playing games on the computer also brings reading and language arts to a medium that students are familiar with and like to use.