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Help Your Child Choose a Just Right Book With This Secret Trick

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Inside: Now that your child is beginning to read, do you need to know how to help them choose the right book that is appropriate for them? Not too hard but not too easy? There’s a simple teacher trick that all parents should know to help our new readers pick the perfect book every time!

Congrats! Your child is starting to read books. Real actual books.

It’s such an exciting time in every kid’s life…the letters they’ve been learning about and seeing for years magically transform into words that form sentences that create stories. Stories that entertain and delight.

And the pride that kids feel when they first realize they’re actually reading is powerful to witness.

But now what?

How do you improve their reading at home?

How do you help them become an even better reader?

When you’re at the library or bookstore with them, how do parents help their kids choose the right book to read?

The answers can be found on one hand…and it’s an old teacher trick that all parents should know!

Help your child find the right book for them using this simple Five Finger Rule Secret that teachers use in their classroom. Learn how at www.coffeeandcarpool.com

Have your child pick out a book that looks interesting to them.

Help Your child pick out a just right book with this old teacher trick to see if a book is too easy, too hard, or just right #newreaders #reluctantreaders #choosingabook #readingathome #readmorebooks #helpyourkidsread #raisingreaders #coffeeandcarpool

Have them read a random page from the book or the backcover.

As they’re reading, count their mistakes or words they can’t read independently.

For every mistake or stumble, put up one finger on your hand.

Help your new reader pick out the "just right" book for them by using this secret trick that teachers use. www.coffeeandcarpool.com

By the end of the page, if you have 0-1 fingers up, it’s an easy book for them to read independently. It’s a great choice!

If you’re at 2-3 fingers by the end of the page, it’s a book that will challenge them and improve their reading. They may need some help from you on harder words, but overall, it’s a great choice!

If you’re at 4-5 fingers before you get to the end of the page, the book will be too hard for them to read independently. They’re going to get frustrated so it’s a good book to read together, but not by themselves.

Have a new reader? Help them choose the just right appropriate book so they don't get frustrated too easily. Learn how at www.coffeeandcarpool.com

Reading without getting discouraged will increase their confidence and their desire to read more books!

Need ideas of where to even start picking out a book to try?

Great first independent reader books:

Dr. Seuss Beginner Books: Purple Anthology, Green Anthology, Blue Anthology, Orange Anthology, Red Anthology, Green Eggs and Ham, Hop on Pop, Ten Apples Up on Top, Fred and Ted

Frog and Toad books

Elephant and Piggie books 

Danny the Dinosaur books

Harold and the Purple Crayon

Berenstain Bears Beginner Books: The Big Honey Hunt, The Bear Scouts, Spooky Old Tree, The Bears’ Vacation, The Bears’ Picnic

You Are Not Small

Amelia Bedillia

Morris and Borris

And Leveled Readers (all are super high interest because they use favorite TV characters, Superheroes, science, Legos, and Disney characters!)

I Can Read

Step into Reading

Ready to Read

Scholastic Readers

World of Reading

Dk Readers, Beginning to Read

Great first Beginner Chapter Books:

Rainbow Magic Fairies Series (My daughter’s absolute FAVORITE!)

Horrible Harry

Ricky Ricotta and His Mighty Robot (This is what FINALLY got my son to read!)

Flat Stanley

Geronimo Stilton

Magic Tree House

Instilling a love of reading in our kids is a gift that every parent can give to their children. Surround them with books, and our kids will become life long readers.

Does your new reader need help finding an appropriate book for their reading skills? Use this secret trick and you'll always find the perfect book at www.coffeeandcarpool.com


What was your favorite book to read as a child? Share it with your new reader! They’ll love it because you loved it!

What is your child’s favorite book that I should add to this list?

Need other Back to School Tips to help your student?

Want to organize and declutter all the school paperwork your child brings home?

 

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Flossie McCowald | SuperMomHacks says

    December 28, 2017 at 1:08 pm

    What a fabulous trick! My kids have never struggled in this area, but I know their teachers send home elaborate lists of rules for “how to choose a just right” book that are a LOT more complicated than this! Have pinned for future reference and will have to share on my FB page at some point, too! 🙂

    Reply
  2. Shannon says

    December 28, 2017 at 2:09 pm

    That is a smart idea! Especially because it gets parents to pay attention to how their child is reading and help them choose books that encourage the love of reading!

    Reply
  3. Gloria says

    December 28, 2017 at 2:20 pm

    This is brilliant. I usually just guess by flicking through the pages myself. But I like this guide!

    Reply

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Welcome to Coffee and Carpool for busy parents on the go.

I’m Nicole and I am a recovering elementary school teacher, a mom to three super busy kids, and I mostly survive on strong coffee.

I share my best parenting tips and tricks for intentionally raising kind kids, creating a stronger family connection, and bullying prevention.

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159 shares