Book Choice to Sustain Independent Reading -- Getting to Know Books

There are four tenets that guide instruction geared toward improving student reading proficiency:

1. Read more pages
2. Read more often
3. Read books that match ability level
4. Provide expert guidance

Of the four, three are directly linked to book choice. Helping students know how to select books that are right for them is imperative to reading growth and development.

This mini lesson portfolio focuses on how teachers can help students learn more about books so students are better informed of what�s out there for them to read. This series begins with an introduction to genre. Over the course of several days, students learn about the different categories of books inside the classroom library and the traits that define these groupings. From there, students take a close look at beloved series and the traits that make these books popular. By exploring the characteristics that make books appealing to readers, students begin to develop a familiarity with the different titles and types of books available to them to read. Students learn about titles, create reference guides, and learn how to use their peers as resources for recommendations.



Table of Contents
What is genre?
Ways to Know What a Book Holds in Store
Just-Right Books: How Important is Length When Selecting a Just-Right Book?
Is Long Text With Small Print the Sign of a Successful Reader?
How Well Do You Like This Book? Developing Systems for Rating our Reading
The More We Know about a Book, the Easier it is to Choose Wisely
Finding Books With Traits I Love