Program Description

The fourth-grade MEAP reading test is a definitive measure of the elementary reading program. It reflects preschool training, public school teaching, and student and home motivation—among other influences. Basically, it tells how well a child can read compared to other fourth graders.

This test comes at a critical age because, if the student cannot read well at this stage, it is unlikely that the seventh-grade test will show improvement. A child cannot read to learn until he or she has learned to read. With poor reading skills, a student will suffer a three-year deficit in most other academic subjects.

On the plus side, intervention at this critical point can make all the difference in a child’s life—leading to reading success and enjoyment.

By third grade, children have received three to five years of pre-reading and reading instruction. Along with this, their speaking vocabulary includes hundreds of words and their attention span is high. They have potential for personal motivation regarding academic success, career interests, and the gathering of information. Also, at this time, students and parents have a positive attitude toward academics.

The ability to read with ease, enjoyment, and interest is similar in many respects to other acquired skills such as sports or dancing. There is a critical point at which a child can participate comfortably. If you can cross this threshold, you can continue because it’s fun and satisfying. If you don’t get past this point, you will not continue to participate willingly and to progress. Yet, if the skills are mastered enough for the activity to become enjoyable, further participation and progress is almost assured.

For various children, this critical point for learning to read with enjoyment can range anywhere from the age of 3 to 12-13. But an optimum critical point is third grade or 8-10 years old.