Strategies for students to choose a book of interest and is at their reading level.

Independent reading allows students to choose a book that interests them. It is important for a teacher to assist the students with their reading selection to ensure it is at their reading level. As well, the teacher may wish to put in place specific parameters before the selection is made. A student should be encouraged to read a variety of genres.

Choosing the Book

Why Do You Read?

Begin a discussion with your students of why they choose to read. Answers may include reasons such as enjoyment, meaning, and information.

Before a student begins to read a book, they must decide why they are reading the book. Is it for enjoyment or is it to answer a specific question. A student may read a book because all of his friends are reading the book. By answering the question the student are reading with a purpose and this will motivate them to read and enhance their comprehension.

It is best for the teacher to model the different reasons he reads a book with legitimate book selection. A teacher may choose a romantic comedy for enjoyment, a book on plumbing for information as she needs to repair her toilets. A teacher should read her book during independent reading to show the importance of her. She may choose to read at her desk, on the floor, to illustrate to students they may read anywhere in the classroom.

Just-Right Book Selection Process

Students choose a book of interest and must decide if it is at their reading level. Student randomly reads any page from their book. If there are more than five words that they do not understand, the book is not at their reading level. As well, students should choose books that challenge them.

A teacher can model this with their reading level with an assortment of genres. The teacher may bring in a few books on plumbing and read a page from each book and decide which is best suited for her reading level. As the teacher reads she will think aloud explaining how specific words, she does not understand.

Reading Agreement

Have students set goals each month on their reading goal. All goals must be approved by the teacher to ensure the student is not setting unrealistic goals or goals that are too easy to achieve.

Each month students will sign a new reading agreement and the teacher will witness the goal. If students are unable to reach their goal, they must talk to the teacher about 5 days before the end of the month. A teacher should help the student adjust their goal for success to be achieved. As well, next month, the teacher may choose to monitor the students who were not successful more closely to ensure success.

The teacher should write her personal goal and choose a book from the classroom library to become better acquainted with her students. If the teacher is unable to reach her goal, she should have a class discussion on why the goal is not being reached. If the main reason is because of class disturbances during independent reading, she may have students decide on strategies for her to achieve her reading goal.

Reading Log

A reading log is a record of the books read by the students. Reading logs should have title, author, date started, date finished, and rating. The rating can be out of five or students give it the thumbs up or down. Additional categories to the reading log may include, why you chose to read the book, book genre, number of pages,