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It can be very exciting when your child starts to enjoy reading and wanting to read books to others or by themselves.  In order to help them be and feel successful, it is important that they are able to read these books independently.  A great way to help monitor this is by using the five finger rule.  When selecting a book for your child to read, have them open the book to a page in the middle and begin reading.  As they get to a word they don’t know, have them put up one finger and continue reading.  Each time they approach a word they don’t know or can’t sound out, put up another finger.  If they get to five fingers, or five words they don’t know, on a single page, the book is likely too difficult at that time for them to read independently.  When they want to read a book that is too hard you can tell them…

• Let’s read it together.
• This book will be great to save for later in the year, or when you are a little older.
• Let’s read this together, that way I can help you with the words that are too hard.

One way to organize a home library is to separate books “I can read myself” and books “I can read with an adult.”  You could organize them on different shelves or different bins.  This way, when you and your child select books before bedtime, or in the afternoon to read together, you are pocking books of interest that your child may not be quite ready to read themselves.  Also, when they pick a book to read independently, you can be confident that they will be able to do so and it may build their confidence, and enjoyment of reading for leisure.

For more information about reading to and with your children, visit any of the following resources:

• http://www.readingrockets.org/
• http://www.professionalpractice.org/about-us/selecting_just_right_books/