As you know, one of the standards your child must reach before the end of the year is to read twenty-five books or book equivalents in one school year.  The selections must represent different genres such as fiction, non-fiction, articles, and so on.  The following are commonly asked questions and answers I hope will help you.

v     What constitutes a book?

In fourth grade, we define a “book” as 100 pages.  If the book is a little shy of the 100 page mark, it can still count as a book.  Ten poems also equal a book.  Ten articles can count as a book.  Not only do these requirements encourage students to read different genres, but they also give students a break from reading paperback books.

v     What level of book should my child be reading?

Independent reading is different from instructional reading.  In the class, I will read at a fourth grade level.  For students who read at a higher level, I provide them with opportunities to read higher-level material.  Independent reading level is what your child can comfortably read at home alone without becoming frustrated.  If your child can comfortably read at a third grade level, then it is fine for them to independently read those books at home.  I will be checking each student’s reading level within the next few weeks.

v     My child hates to read, what can I do?

The goal of this standard is for students to acquire a love for reading.  It is important that we work together in this case to find something that your child likes to read.  I incorporate a “Reading Club” in my classroom to give the students an incentive to read.  The students earn rewards for every 500 minutes they read.  In addition, any student that reads 4,000 minutes by the end of the year gets to do something special with me.

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