Parent Resources

Scholastic Article 

8 Ways to Know a Book is Just Right for a Middle Schooler December 30, 2018 - Jessica Steel

1. I know most of the words.  Any unfamiliar words do not interfere with my ability to understand characters, conflicts, setting and the events in the story.

2. I understand what I’m reading.  I can tell someone about it, or write down my thinking about what I have read.

3. I am focused and engaged.  

4. I have a movie going in my head.  I can picture the interactions between characters, and I “see” the setting the author has created.

5. I can read with expression.  I understand the context.

6. My reading pace is consistent.  I do not read fast or slow.  The pace is just right.

7. I can summarize what I have read.  I can explain the main ideas of the text.

8. It challenges my thinking a little.  I can make my thinking visible about literal aspects of the story and I am working on inferencing.

Below are 8 suggested activities to enhance the reading opportunities for students from nationalcalendarday.com:

• Tuck magazines into your bag. Anytime you have some free time you will have something to read.

• Place books for all ages in the car. Everyone will have something to read. Older children can read to those who haven't mastered the skill.

• Unplug for the month. Then stop by the library and pick out the latest bestseller or classic on your reading list.

• Charge up the digital reader's battery and load it up. Many classics have been made available for a small fee or no cost.

• Get caught reading to children. Find a snug spot and create a routine that carries on throughout the year.

• Include a book in every room in the house.

• Encourage reading during stressful times as a way to distract the mind away from worries and to refocus.

• Read outdoors in a park after a walk.