Read on a daily basis. Take time in the morning and at night to read. Set a goal of reading between 15 and 20 pages per day during the school week. Continual practice sharpens skills, expands intelligence and imagination, and increases vocabulary.
Consult with fifth-grade teachers about summer reading assignments or suggested readings during the break between fourth and fifth grade. Establish a comfortable place, perhaps a bedroom or den, to read every day. Find a silent and relaxing area to complete daily readings.
Take notes while reading. Discuss the book with parents, siblings and friends. Write a one page summary of the book. Examine themes, characters and events. Describe the book in your own words to practice forming original thoughts and develop analytical skills.
Practice vocabulary words. Use flashcards or a thesaurus to compile words. Test yourself every day and try to learn two or three words per week. Expand your vocabulary in conjunction with reading to reduce the intimidation factor books can present.
Study maps, encyclopedias and other historical and biographical information. Learn about the geography, history and cultures of the world. Open your mind to profound aspects of life to put literary works in context and help prepare you for fifth grade research projects.