Developing reading comprehension skills for literary texts, especially poetry, is an important objective in primary language education. However, due to the condensed language, rich imagery, and artistic features of poetry, many Grade 5 students encounter difficulties in understanding both the content and aesthetic value of poetic texts. This study aims to propose and develop a system of exercises designed to enhance poetry reading comprehension skills for Grade 5 students. The research is based on the theoretical foundations of reading comprehension instruction and the requirements of the 2018 General Education Curriculum, combined with the practical context of teaching Vietnamese at the primary school level.

The proposed system of exercises is organized into three main types: content comprehension exercises, form-based comprehension exercises, and relational–comparative–connective exercises. Content comprehension tasks help students identify the theme, understand key ideas, and recognize the message conveyed in the poem. Form-based exercises guide students to explore linguistic features, imagery, and rhetorical devices, thereby enabling them to perceive the artistic value of the text. Meanwhile, relational and comparative activities encourage students to connect the poem with their personal experiences, real-life contexts, and other literary works, which contributes to expanding their thinking and literary appreciation.