Choosing a library book can be overwhelming for students. While many children like to wander the stacks to see what’s new, sometimes there is too much choice. Some students shut down, grab the first book they come across, and then don’t think about books again until the following week. Others get stuck in a rut, and only check out books from the same series (like Minecraft or Diary of A Wimpy Kid) week after week, never venturing beyond their familiar section. While the librarian and classroom teachers can encourage our students to branch out of their comfort zones, parents and caregivers are important allies when it comes to developing the love of reading in our students. We want them to be lifelong readers, and that means giving them both freedom and guidance.
Freedom involves letting children read what they like. You may not care for graphic novels, for example, but if that’s what your student loves, it’s important not to squash their enthusiasm. Today’s graphic novels are not the same as the comic books many of us grew up with. There is rich character development, compelling storylines, and images to help struggling readers contextualize the text. Reluctant readers tend to find these books highly engaging and less “work” than chapter books. If your student is hesitant to branch out beyond graphic novels you can try a series that has both graphic novels as well as traditional text. Wings of Fire, The Babysitters Club, and I Survived are all popular series that have both options for readers. If your child wants to start with the graphic novel version, they can then possibly be enticed to read the chapter book.
Guidance from adults comes in the form of encouragement and support as students venture into more complex texts. Children’s comprehension skills are far greater than decoding when they are in the early grades. A kindergartener who is just learning to read sight words can listen to a chapter book that is read to them in small doses. If you are reading together for 20 minutes a night, a series like Magic Treehouse or A to Z Mysteries has chapters that are just the perfect length for young listeners. Audio books are another great option, especially on car trips. To build stamina when your child is beginning to read independently, you can alternate pages when reading a book together. If they are ready for chapter books, you can read the first in a series and then let them take over. To encourage them to finish a book, a promise to see the movie version after completion can be a great incentive. High interest nonfiction books also have great appeal to young children. Reading about dinosaurs, robots, animals, or natural disasters may feel less taxing than a 300 page chapter book. Let your child decide what to read based on what interests them.
Destiny, our online catalog, is linked directly to the Lyme School website. It can be found under the “quicklinks” on the upper right corner. Students in grade three and up are trained to use the database to search for books, but families are welcome to utilize it as well. If you can’t find what you are looking for, feel free to e-mail me. I am always happy to help people look for books!
Happy reading!
Freedom involves letting children read what they like. You may not care for graphic novels, for example, but if that’s what your student loves, it’s important not to squash their enthusiasm. Today’s graphic novels are not the same as the comic books many of us grew up with. There is rich character development, compelling storylines, and images to help struggling readers contextualize the text. Reluctant readers tend to find these books highly engaging and less “work” than chapter books. If your student is hesitant to branch out beyond graphic novels you can try a series that has both graphic novels as well as traditional text. Wings of Fire, The Babysitters Club, and I Survived are all popular series that have both options for readers. If your child wants to start with the graphic novel version, they can then possibly be enticed to read the chapter book.
Guidance from adults comes in the form of encouragement and support as students venture into more complex texts. Children’s comprehension skills are far greater than decoding when they are in the early grades. A kindergartener who is just learning to read sight words can listen to a chapter book that is read to them in small doses. If you are reading together for 20 minutes a night, a series like Magic Treehouse or A to Z Mysteries has chapters that are just the perfect length for young listeners. Audio books are another great option, especially on car trips. To build stamina when your child is beginning to read independently, you can alternate pages when reading a book together. If they are ready for chapter books, you can read the first in a series and then let them take over. To encourage them to finish a book, a promise to see the movie version after completion can be a great incentive. High interest nonfiction books also have great appeal to young children. Reading about dinosaurs, robots, animals, or natural disasters may feel less taxing than a 300 page chapter book. Let your child decide what to read based on what interests them.
Destiny, our online catalog, is linked directly to the Lyme School website. It can be found under the “quicklinks” on the upper right corner. Students in grade three and up are trained to use the database to search for books, but families are welcome to utilize it as well. If you can’t find what you are looking for, feel free to e-mail me. I am always happy to help people look for books!
Happy reading!
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