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Cliff from Wisconsin asks about ...
Finding the right book
" Whenever I take my daughter
to the library, I'm never sure if
we've picked out the right books
for her. She's in second grade,
and often picks books that are too
hard, so she gets discouraged, or
ones that are too easy and don't
help her grow. Any suggestions?"
That's a great question, Cliff. To find books that are "just right" try this easy trick.....
Once your child has picked up a book she thinks she'd like, have her open to any page and try to read it. For every word that is too hard, hold up a finger. If all five fingers are up before the page is done, then
the book is probably too hard. If no fingers are up, then it may be too easy.
That said, when a child really wants a book, even when it seems too hard or too easy I always encourage them to go for it! That's because lots of learning happens when a student struggles through a book they "really, really " want to read, and practicing books that are easy is a great
way to improve fluency and build confidence.
So, please put your concerns to rest and enjoy helping her carry home every book that catches her fancy!
