Research states that students who read for 30 minutes a day at their independent reading level make better gains in reading. So what is that individual reading level in simple terms?
Choosing a book is like buying a pair of shoes. We have different shoes for different reasons. You may have a pair of “good shoes”, a pair of everyday shoes, and possibly boots or a certain type of shoe for a certain sport. So we choose shoes based on the reason we want to use them. Books are not any different. We choose books based on our reason for using them. Do they reflect our interest? Can it help us find the information we want? Again going back to our shoes, we wouldn’t choose a pair of shoes to wear that is way too large or way too small, but we would choose the pair that fits us. So to pick a book, the person you are getting it for must be able to read the words as well as understand what they are reading.
So what does all this mean? A simple strategy to consider when choosing a book is “I PICK” taken from the author Gail Boushey and Joan Moser. I choose a book that has a Purpose (Why am I reading it?), Interest (Do I like the theme of the book), Comprehend (Will I understand what it says?), and Know (Can I read most of the words?). Once a book is selected for reading, then just like any sports that a son or daughter plays or the time it takes to play a musical instrument well, they must practice reading daily. Practice is the only way that any student will get better or even challenge their thinking.
You can help your son, daughter, or young person in your life by showing them that reading is important through modeling reading, visiting the library, and even taking time to talk to them about what they are reading. Try using “ I PICK” next time you want to get a book. Happy Reading!
Choosing a book is like buying a pair of shoes. We have different shoes for different reasons. You may have a pair of “good shoes”, a pair of everyday shoes, and possibly boots or a certain type of shoe for a certain sport. So we choose shoes based on the reason we want to use them. Books are not any different. We choose books based on our reason for using them. Do they reflect our interest? Can it help us find the information we want? Again going back to our shoes, we wouldn’t choose a pair of shoes to wear that is way too large or way too small, but we would choose the pair that fits us. So to pick a book, the person you are getting it for must be able to read the words as well as understand what they are reading.
So what does all this mean? A simple strategy to consider when choosing a book is “I PICK” taken from the author Gail Boushey and Joan Moser. I choose a book that has a Purpose (Why am I reading it?), Interest (Do I like the theme of the book), Comprehend (Will I understand what it says?), and Know (Can I read most of the words?). Once a book is selected for reading, then just like any sports that a son or daughter plays or the time it takes to play a musical instrument well, they must practice reading daily. Practice is the only way that any student will get better or even challenge their thinking.
You can help your son, daughter, or young person in your life by showing them that reading is important through modeling reading, visiting the library, and even taking time to talk to them about what they are reading. Try using “ I PICK” next time you want to get a book. Happy Reading!