In my Child and Adolescent Literature class at the American College of Education one of the Module 2 videos states, “Research suggests when children are read to 6 to 7 days a week, they may gain as much as a year’s achievement in reading” (EDUC4103 Module 2, 2024). Everyone knows how important it is to read to their child but how many people do it 6-7 days a week? The easiest way for making it a daily habit when I was fostering was to incorporate it into their schedule. After baths and brushing teeth, we would all gather on the couch and read a book or three. For the older ones I read aloud a chapter book with all the fun accents thrown in! It was so worth it!
So how do you know what level books to get for your child? Try the five finger rule! Scholastic.com gives this solution:
Here’s how it works: Your child opens a book to the first page. They read the page and hold up one finger for every word they don’t know or can’t pronounce. The number of fingers they’re holding up by the end of the page tells them if the book is the right level:
0-1 fingers: It’s too easy.
2-3 fingers: It’s just right.
4-5 fingers: It’s too hard (or best read aloud with a buddy).
Two to three fingers is the sweet spot. If they’re holding up any more or less, that’s a clue that they should try to find another book if they’re reading independently.
[EDUC4103 Module 2]. (2024, January 1). Common Genres in Children’s Literature [Video]. American College of Education.