Resources for Parents
How can I help my child select books?
Look for book levels, or lexile levels. Once we complete the BAS assessment for reading, your student will know the appropriate level that fits his/her/their, reading level. If a book is not leveled, try booksource.com, and type in the name of the book. In our classroom, books are organized by levels and topics. Series are a great way to get students reading.
Extra Tips for Choosing New Books When You Feel Stuck
Think about your reading level.
Ask yourself: What kinds of books was I reading at the end of last year? What level was I reading easily? Then look for books that look and feel like that, or that are marked with that level. It’s smart to start the year with fast-and-furious reading, which means choosing just-right books.
Think about authors you’ve loved.
If you loved Judy Blume, she writes a lot of books at different levels. So do prolific authors such as Suzanne Collins, Matt Christopher, Mike Lupica, Walter Dean Myers, Matt de la Peña, Jacqueline Woodson, and Avi. Look for an author you recognize. Pick up some of his or her books. See if one feels right.
Think about genres you’ve enjoyed, in books or movies.
If you love dystopian, check out series like Divergent, Gone, The Maze Runner. If you love thrillers, check out Alex Rider. If you love sci-fi like Star Trek, check out the Artemis Fowl series. If you love romance and tragedy, find anything by John Green. If you like sports stories, try books by Matt Christopher, Chris Crutcher, Mike Lupica, Matt de la Peña.
