Fifth Grade (TACS-5)

Teaching and Assessing Comprehension Strategies – 5 (TACS-5) is a teacher resource designed to teach fifth grade students how, when and why to use comprehension strategies. This powerful resource was developed to provide teachers with tools to teach the important strategies that students need to become proficient readers, and effective test takers. TACS-5 was developed using a research based instructional mode. It has proven to guide students to automaticity by selecting the appropriate or the needed comprehension strategy when reading.


TACS-5 addresses the following comprehension strategies commonly found in fifth grade standards and assessments:

  • Vocabulary (Context Clues, Dictionary, Best Definition,
    Synonyms/Antonyms, Figurative Language)
  • Main Ideas Supporting Details
  • Text to Support Meaning
  • Written Summary
  • Character Traits / Emotions / Motives
  • Setting
  • Plot / Story Problem / Resolution
  • Order of Important Events / Chronology
  • Cause and Effect (Literal / Inferred)
  • Inferences (Predictions / Drawing Conclusions / Generalizations)
  • Connect, Compare, Contrast Across Text(s)
  • Author’s Purpose
  • Author’s Point of View
  • Genre Format
  • Patterns of Organization
  • Internal Consistency or Logic
  • Use Graphic Organizers


Comprehension Strategies


TACS-5 is organized into five strategic sections each consisting of three selections and an assessment. Teachers use a four-step teaching model identified by Fielding and Pearson: teacher modeling, guided practice, independent practice and application of strategies. A Deeper Look has been incorporated into the lesson plans to provide in-depth higher level thinking activities. The strategies are presented in the order of difficulty so that students practice the most difficult strategies repeatedly to help them become proficient. Expository and narrative texts of increasing length and difficulty are presented. Formats vary to provide a realistic representation of everyday reading and standardized tests. The selections are engaging, combine genre, and are made up of a controlled word count.

Detailed easy to use lesson plans are provided for each reading selection. Writing activities are integrated in each section. As noted each section concludes with an assessment. The primary purpose of the assessment is to inform instruction. Instructions assist the teacher to use the test data to formulate tailored instruction for students. These cumulative assessments are formatted to mimic in appearance standardized tests, and test procedures. Length and difficulty of the assessments increases in each succeeding section. Teachers determine how and when to use TACS-5. Instruction can be whole class, small group or individualized.


TACS-5 features:

  • Self contained everything needed to teach the 25 comprehension strategies are included
  • Requires only minutes each day to build to mastery by standardized test date
  • Proven research based instructional model
  • Easy to use step-by-step lesson plans
  • Most effective one teacher resource book is needed for the entire class
  • Original engaging reading selections using both expository and narrative writing
  • Assessments mimic standardized and state test formats

TACS-5 English - $75.00


For more information, call toll free 1-866-867-7552.

Fourth Grade Also Available

Teaching and Assessing Comprehension Strategies is available for third grade, fourth grade, and fifth grade. For more information about TACS-4, click on the book above.

Third Grade Also Available

Teaching and Assessing Comprehension Strategies is available for third grade, fourth grade, and fifth grade is coming soon. For more information about TACS-3, click on the book above.

Developing Readers
Modeling Independence

Developing Readers is a teacher resource designed developmentally for grades 2-5 and used remedially in grades 6-8. Click on the book above for more information about how this powerful tool works with the Teaching and Assessing Comprehension Strategies materials.

Teaching and Assessing Comprehension Strategies Workshops
Teaching and Assessing Comprehension Strategies Workshop helps teachers understand and teach strategies used in standardized assessments and state tests. It provides instruction for best practices with easy to use lesson plans. These strategies modeled help students gain proficiency in the use of comprehension strategies. Call for more information.

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