Hello, and Welcome Back to School!
Today is the first day of the 2011-2012 school year, and (of course) reading is on my mind - for my students and for my own children. Research shows that students who regularly read at home are often more successful in school – and this is also true of reading to your child (like nightly bedtime stories).
So, which books are good for reading practice, and which books are good for storytime?
Books for Reading Practice should be:
- high-interest
- at your child’s independent reading level
- easily-accessible for your child
- fun to read over and over again
- some examples include the Step into Reading series (published by Random House) and DK Readers
Books for Storytime should be:
- high-interest
- quality examples of children’s literature
- engaging and thought-provoking
- fun to discuss together
- some examples include the books in the “Focus Books” section of this website (see tabs across the top of this page)
Sometimes, I see parents trying to read a level 2 DK Reader (like Star Wars Journey Through Space) out loud to their child – not a bad idea, just not very interesting and fun for the parents or the child! These kinds of books are meant to be used for independent reading practice.
Conversely, I often see kids who are trying to tackle books that are just too difficult for them to read independently (like kindergarteners who are “reading” the Junie B. Jones books by Barbara Park) – in a case like this, try to steer your child towards books that are a bit easier and more appropriate for him/her to read alone.
When you’re using the right books for the right purpose, you will find that things go much more smoothly – and reading time will be more enjoyable for your child - And You! 
