I think most people assume that students in grade 4 have already acquired the skills necessary for reading.  Some students, however, may still have difficulty in reading new texts because they have yet to learn the ‘rules’ to help them read.  As a teacher, it would be important to know about the 4 cueing systems so you know where the students are making errors in their use of language.  Rather than saying “No, that’s wrong” a teacher who is aware of cueing systems could step in with helpful suggestions as to how to find the correct answer: “Well, how about we try reading it out loud?  Now, does that make sense?”

To help students learn the pragmatic system, teachers could incorporate a variety of role playing games or activities into the classroom.  For example, if there is a unit on government (in grade 5), then teachers could set up a ‘discussion panel’, and have students play the part of political leaders, moderators, or audience members with questions.  Students would need to think ‘how would someone in my position behave in this context?’ and could practice norms for communication.  Teachers could also use small partnering activities and have students get into pairs or small groups and practice attentive listening and communication skills.  A discussion on cultural differences could also be brought into the classroom to explore what is appropriate in different countries or cultures. 

- Fiona