Choosing Books to Read

Enjoyment Remember children like us pick books because it is filling a purpose for them usually enjoyment. Even if a book looks way too difficult for a child and a child chooses to read that book. Let them read it anyway. Getting kids to want to read is the most important thing.

In the schools:
AR There are several systems for leveling books for students to read. One common system found in school libraries is the AR (Accelerated Reader) program that has a pre-test at the beginning of the year and post-test at the end of the year in participating schools. Students are assigned a level based on their responses to reading comprehension questions. Students are encouraged to choose books at this level. They then take comprehension tests. Once a given number of these tests is passed, they may move on to the next level.

The theory behind this type of reading is that students will show the most growth if they are learning in the zone of proximal development. This zone is not where the student can read on their own without help and it is not difficult or at the frustration level. But it is at the level where students are challenged and where they can read most of the words in the text.

To go to the AR book finder website click on this link: http://www.arbookfind.com/UserType.aspx You can type in the title of many books and be told the book's AR reading level. This is helpful when attending a public library or to know the AR level of the books in your personal library.

Reading Recovery There is also the Reading Recovery system organized alphabetically. To see a list of Reading Recovery levels and the corresponding grade levels visit the link below:
http://www.sos.wa.gov/_assets/library/libraries/firsttuesdays/ReadingChart.pdf

Alisa