I need a book at my reading level!
Where are the books for second graders?
My daughter is in fourth grade but reading at a high school level. What should she read?
Whether your child loves to read and gobbles up several books a week, or is still a little hesitant about reading, we understand that it can be difficult to pick out books. Below are some quick and easy tips for finding the "just right" books for your child.
The Five Finger Rule is one strategy to gauge whether or not a book is suitable for your child. Here’s how it works: Have your child open the book in question and read a random page. For every word they do not know, they should hold up a finger.
If your child is holding up no fingers or just one after reading the page, the book is probably too easy. If your child is holding up two or three fingers, this is the sweet spot and the just right book for your child. The goal is for reading to be a little complex and challenging, but not impossible. Reading should be an enjoyable experience. Young readers should feel like they’re learning, growing, and yes, even having fun.
If your child is
holding up four fingers after reading the page, the book is going to be a
challenge to read independently and your little one should read the book along
with a grownup. If they are holding up five fingers, the book is probably too
hard and they should choose another title for now.
What
are some other ways to tell if a book is just right?
The
book is new to your child. If your young reader has read the same book several times
before, chances are they’ll be able to breeze through it again and it’ll be too
easy.
Your
child understands most of the story, and can retell the major events or facts
of the book. It’s okay if there are some plot points your child doesn’t
understand. Books should be a little challenging so your young
reader has the chance to grow and learn something new, but reading should feel
successful instead of frustrating, and your child should understand most of what is taking place in the story.
Your
child can read most of the words and know what they mean. Refer to the Five
Finger Rule for guidance.
The
topic is interesting to your child. Again, reading should be fun instead of
frustrating. Unless your young reader needs to meet certain requirements for
school assignments, try to find books that appeal to their interests. Unsure of
how to find a chapter book about bugs? Or superhero astronauts? This is where
your favorite librarians come into play. Ask us questions! We love helping your
little ones find their next favorite book.
Other
things to keep in mind:
Levels
are for books, not for students. Lexile, Accelerated Reader, and all of the other
levels used by schools are to serve as a guide or a tool for reading. Reading
levels should not be used to limit books or choices. The best way to reach
fluency is actually to read several books below reading level. The most
important thing at the end of the day is that your child is reading.
Ask
your child what they’ve read recently that they enjoyed. Or ask them what they
don’t like to read. This will help determine your child's interests and what assortment of books can be offered. Try to offer a
range of choices in your child’s reading level. Instead of simply being a 4.2
reading level or a level M, young readers will have a range to guide their
reading. The more choices in their reading range, the more likely it is that they’ll find
something they enjoy.
Graphic
novels are amazing. They tend to be more engaging than beginner books because
of their humor and detailed illustrations, and they typically have more text complexity
than picture books. They essentially serve as bridges to chapter books and more
complex reading for a variety of audiences; reluctant readers, beginning
readers, and more enjoy graphic novels. If your child is gravitating towards graphic novels, let
them explore.