All books talk but good books listen as well!

As we launch ‘BOOK HOOKS’ reading club and make some exciting changes to the choice of reading material in the LitPro home reading program, I would love your support and help as we assist our children to select “good fit” books and reading material that aligns with their level of maturity and interests.

An important part of becoming a successful independent reader is being able to choose “good fit” books for yourself. That is, a book that is not too easy or too difficult, but “just right”.

To help students make a “good fit” book choice they can use the IPICK guidelines:

I look at the book
Purpose (Why do I want to read this book?)
Interest (Am I interested in the topic?)
Comprehend (Do I understand what I am reading?)
Know (Do I know most of the words?)

They can also use the ‘5 finger method’ or do this exercise in their heads. Students choose a book and start reading a page. Each time they come to a tricky word, they raise a finger. If five fingers are raised, students can then decide if the book is really a good fit for their current reading ability or too hard.

This year, students in Year 3 to 6 who participate in the Lexile home reading program will be able to choose books from across the collection using the coloured star guidelines to help them make ‘good fit’ reading choices. Children will also have the opportunity to read material that is outside of the Lexile collection and they will be able to complete an electronic book summary and review which will be posted to the ‘BOOK HOOKS’ blog. In this way they will have the opportunity to gain teacher added points.

There will be all sorts of fun and exciting things for our readers when they come along to ‘BOOK HOOKS’ reading club, some of which include Readers picnics, Lunch and Literature, Millionaire meeting and marshmallows, Winter reading Wonderland and Wordless Book read alouds.

Reading will be the main homework activity this year so please help to provide time for reading widely, wildly and choice. Comic books, Nonfiction, Fiction, Magazines, Cookbooks! The same book over and over! And if you have time, a little bedtime reading is always loved and appreciated.

‘Reading aloud and talking about what we’re reading sharpens children’s brains. It helps develop their ability to concentrate at length, to solve problems logically, and to express themselves more easily and clearly.’ Mem Fox.

Gail Mitchell, Head of Primary