Choosing "Good-Fit" Books
To help teach the concept of choosing "Good-Fit" Books, I brought in a shopping bag with several different types of shoes, some of which weren't even mine! The kids helped me decide that I couldn't very well go hiking in flip flops or go jogging in high heels, because the shoes weren't meant for that PURPOSE. They also helped me realize that just because a tennis shoe is for running, wearing my son's tennis shoe (which is 4 sizes too big) wouldn't work either!
I teach my students that the most important way to become a better reader is to make sure they are choosing the right books that are a good-fit for them. The acronym we use in our classroom is IPICK...
I (students) can choose a book
P urpose (Why am I reading it?)
I nterest (Is it interesting to me?)
C omprehension (Can I understand it?)
K now all the words (Do I know the words?)
Current research shows that books are a "Good-Fit" if students are able to independently read the book with 99% accuracy. The best way to judge this when your child is picking out books at home, is for your child to read-aloud the first page to you (check that he/she missed no more than 2-3 words (chapter books)).
I teach my students that the most important way to become a better reader is to make sure they are choosing the right books that are a good-fit for them. The acronym we use in our classroom is IPICK...
I (students) can choose a book
P urpose (Why am I reading it?)
I nterest (Is it interesting to me?)
C omprehension (Can I understand it?)
K now all the words (Do I know the words?)
Current research shows that books are a "Good-Fit" if students are able to independently read the book with 99% accuracy. The best way to judge this when your child is picking out books at home, is for your child to read-aloud the first page to you (check that he/she missed no more than 2-3 words (chapter books)).