The children have been learning how to choose a just right book this week for their
book boxes. They now are allowed to have no more than 2 high
preference books in their boxes, but can have an endless amount of just
right readers. They will be introduced to the analogies that picking out books is like
riding a bike or trying on shoes. Some books are too easy, some are too hard, and some are
just right! Children are learning that it is important to choose a
just right book for their independent reading and have been exploring strategies
to use when evaluating a book. They learned how to use the 5 finger
rule when choosing a book to know whether it is a just right book. If
you stumble on 2-3 words in a book, it is a just right book. An
appropriately leveled book will allow a reader to apply strategies for
understanding the text. A book that is too hard (5 or more difficult
words) will only lead to frustration and a book that is too easy (no
difficult words) will not support opportunities for growth. A just
right book will have some challenging words that the reader will have to
solve and will also cause the reader to at times reread a sentence to
better comprehend the meaning. Our library of just right books is leveled and ensures each child has books to read at their own instructional level. After break, expect to begin seeing books come home a few times a week. Helping your child with reading at home is helpful to them as they practice building fluency.
