Choosing appopriate reading levels

[Cathy Horowitz <horowitz@PPS.PGH.PA.US>]

I, too, use the "five finger" test for children to determine if they would
enjoy a book or if it would be hard work.  I call it the "rule of thumb".
I tell them to start with the pinky.  Everytime they come to a word they
have to work hard at, put up another finger.  If they get to their thumb
before they get to the bottom of the page, they should put that book aside
for a few years.  I always tell them about the thousand page book that I
was trying to read as a junior in high school.  Fortunately, it
"accidentally" got packed in a box when my family was moving.  I tell them
it can be worse to choose a book that's way too hard.  While you're trying
to prove that you can (and want to) read it, you could be reading a book
you would really enjoy.

Cathy Horowitz
Librarian
Woolslair Elementary School
Pgh., PA
horowitz@pps.pgh.pa.us
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