Question: I have been struggling with my 10-year-old son and his reading for years now. I have tried different books, looking for what he likes to read, I've read with him, tried to be enthusiastic, but nothing seems to work.

Now I am trying to give him a monetary incentive to read a chapter book. I've tried the video game/TV incentives, but that still is not enough.

Got a Question? If your fourth-grader has an academic or school-related behavior problem you would like help solving, send it to myfourthgrader@greatschools.net. More on GreatSchools.net Ask the Experts About Fourth-Graders How to Keep Reading With Your Child Your Child and Reading: A Grade-by-Grade Guide

His reading scores were very inconsistent, and every year I hear the same story from his teachers. He rushes through tests and doesn't read the questions carefully, so his test scores are naturally low.

Do you recommend a reading program? I think he will feel like I am punishing him in a way. I don't know what else to do and feel it is going to affect his self-confidence in other areas he was strong in. He started out very strong in math, but that went down at the end of the year, too. I am nervous for him entering fifth grade.

Answer: If your son has difficulty with reading comprehension, it will eventually affect all academic areas, as in math, for example, where there are word problems to process.

You first need to identify if he is capable of reading grade-level material and just doesn't like it, or is he struggling to understand the reading. You should be able to make this determination based upon standardized test scores and discussion with the teachers.

If he is a capable fourth-grade reader and needs motivation to read, then an incentive program is a great idea! You should set it up with short attainable goals and daily rewards, then larger goals and weekly rewards. You'll need a monitoring and measuring system, as well, whether it be a chart or stickers. If the issue is indeed motivation, finding the right type and style of reading material will definitely help. Try reading newspapers, magazines or short passages from books daily to find the things he likes to read about. Then introduce the chapter books on similar subjects. Reading lists by grade and subject are available on GreatSchools.net and are very helpful.

If he is having difficulty with comprehension, now is the time to rectify the problem as reading will get more difficult. Talk to the classroom teacher about tutoring or look into a private reading program. Most students enjoy these programs and do not view them as punishment. Good programs usually have reward systems built in, and most students thrive on the individual attention and instruction that they receive.

Allison Gardenswartz, is the owner and director of The Learning Garden, a San Diego tutoring center specializing in gifted and remedial learning and test preparation studies. An educator for over 15 years, Allison is an expert in identifying and enhancing the learning abilities of school-age children. Allison has a teaching credential and has taught for several years in the public school system in Atlanta, Georgia. She has three children: Jacob, 11, Sofia, 7 and newly adopted Ryan, who is 2!

Advice from our experts is not a substitute for medical or other professional advice and services from a qualified health-care provider familiar with your unique situation. We recommend consulting a qualified professional if you have concerns about your child's medical or emotional condition.

August 2007