Question for the elementary teachers about reading

My dd is in 2nd and has an Instructional Reading Level well above her grade level. She truly loves reading and will read for an hour or more each day if she has the free time.

However, the books she wants to read are below her ability (Junie B Jones, Nancy Drew & the Clue Crew, etc.) and pushes back if I try to encourage her to read harder books.

I don't want to discourage her love of reading, so I'm wrestling with how important it is to push her to read higher level books versus just letting her truly enjoy reading and allow her to move up at her own pace.

FWIW, she was in therapy for anxiety/self esteem issues and has a hard time with change, which I think is part of the reason why she's sticking with series she knows.

Thanks for any opinions/advice!

Re: Question for the elementary teachers about reading

Studies show that kids are more likely to pick up a book that has been read aloud to them. I notice that once I use a book for a read-aloud, my students fight over it, when before they would have never touched it. Maybe try to read for ten minutes before bed from a harder (but still high-interest) book and then let her choose her own independent book. I bet after a month or so, she will feel more comfortable with that book, and be more apt to pick that book up herself. I would also pick a book from a series, so that if she likes the characters, there are other books she can find, without having to change characters over and over.

Hope that helps! :)

Message edited 10/4/2012 8:16:05 PM.

Re: Question for the elementary teachers about reading

let her read what she enjoys reading. many books that are instructionally higher than grade level aren't the best for kids because they aren't appropriate. not that there's anything bad in them--but 7 year olds don't necessarily have the background needed to understand the book and the content. so while she can read and understand them, she may not fully "get" it. let her read on her instructional level in class and read what she want and enjoys at home.

if she's always forced to read harder books, she may stop loving to read. i am a grown adult and i love young adult books! they are fun and quick reads--plus i don't have time to read a long adult novel with little kids at home!

if her level is so high, you don't need to push it higher at home. let her continue at her own pace. and by high, how high are we talking? guided reading M?

Question for the elementary teachers about reading

I agree with the above. But if you really feel she would benefit from and enjoy more challenging books, maybe you could build her interest by reading something aloud with her. If you read something to her that's more level appropriate and she feels she can go it on her own, then she may be more confident. Also, reading something first may help you decide if something's appropriate from a content point of view.

Re: Question for the elementary teachers about reading

Re: Question for the elementary teachers about reading

Re: Question for the elementary teachers about reading

Thanks for all the input! My gut was to leave it alone but I just wanted to make sure that was ok. Maybe I'll start reading the Ramona series with her to get her comfortable with a new series that's a little harder than Junie B.

We didn't get a letter level, it was the STAR reading computer adaptive test so we got a number. This isn't hers but if it said if the IRL is 4.1 that means she is at least 10% proficient at 4th grade words & books compared to kids nationally. Then it gave us a "Zone of Proximal Development" that she should be selecting books from which was almost 2 grade levels in size.

All the different leveled reading evaluation systems are confusing to me, I've been relying on the age ranges on the back cover lately.

My 1st grader took the STAR Early Literacy evaluation and got a score on a scale from 300 - 900 that was VERY vague. One of the other parents in his class teaches K in a neighboring district and said she had no idea how to read the evaluation either, which made me feel a lot better.

Message edited 10/9/2012 1:13:08 PM.