"Good Fit" Books
At the beginning of the year, I do a "Good Fit" reading lesson with students by introducing the book Goldie Socks and the Three Libearians. The story perfectly illustrates the importance of finding a book that is just right. In order to enjoy reading, it is crucial that students find books that interest them and fit their reading levels. A good rule of thumb is the "5 finger rule". If students find 5 words they do not know within the first few pages of the book, then it is too difficult and it is not a good fit.
In addition to finding a good fit book, students must also find a good reading spot within the room. Each student has a book box where they can keep all of their good fit books. When we have independent reading time, students can simply grab their book box and take it with them to a good fit reading spot within the room. To encourage reading, Fennimore participates in the Accelerated Reader program. This is a program where students can read AR books, take quizzes on the books they read and gain points for scoring well on quizzes. In my classroom, for every 5 points that a student gets, they will get to pick a prize from the prize box. |