Reading worksheets can be completed in class as a reading drill to help fifth-graders who are struggling to read. The worksheets can have students re-write a certain amount of sentences within a designated amount of time, and then the students can discuss what the sentences mean. This will help students tie together creating and understanding the written words.
Vocabulary drills will help improve a fifth-grader's reading level. Have students work with vocabulary flash cards every day, in class and at home. Students should learn new reading words together by quizzing each other with vocabulary flash cards on the meaning and spelling of new words.
Students should take turns reading out loud to the class to build up their confidence in reading. You can conduct drills so that each student has to read for a paragraph, and then another student picks up where the last student left off. You can go around the classroom until every student has had an opportunity to read out loud.
Students should be able to understand what they read, which can be improved during reading comprehension drills. Have students read a short story and then describe to the class or to a small group what the story is about. If students are struggling with certain words or sentences in the story, have them mark the areas with a red pen so that the whole class can go over the meaning of words and the comprehension of the material.