PARENT TO PARENT

Q: The suggestions of books and authors in your article were very helpful. I have young children, and was wondering if you could suggest some books for elementary school students, by grade level.

A: That is a tall order, since elementary school reading levels range from pre-readers through adult level, but I'll see what I can do.

Choosing books for elementary aged students is not difficult, if you know what to look for. You first need to know at what level your child is reading. Many children read below or above their current grade level, so choosing a book according to how old they are may not be appropriate.

There are a lot of fancy formulas for figuring out a child's reading level, but you can get a general idea simply by having your child read a page from a book. Have them read out loud to you. If your student gets stuck on five or more words, the book may be too difficult for them. If they get stuck on less than five words, they will more than likely be able to read the book with minimal frustration and understand the story. If your student flies through the page with no effort, move up to a book at the next reading level and try again. If your child struggles with a page, move down to a book at a lower reading level. Continue trying different books until you find the level you are comfortable with.

You don't need to buy a dozen books for this. You can go to the Public Library and sit down and read from several different books. Once you have found a book that seems appropriate for your child, simply ask the librarian what age or grade level the book is recommended for. If you are reading from paperback books, look on the back cover. Most children's paperback books are coded with reading level information. You may see the letters RL, followed by numbers. This stands for reading level, and is usually followed by grades. For example "RL: 2.5" would be recommended for someone reading at a mid-second grade level. Some books list ages, and you may see "Ages 6-8". These codes reflect the grade level at which a child is reading. Your child may actually be older or younger, but that is fine. What counts is comfort level for your little one.

For new readers, I like the "Step Up" books. The vocabulary is simple, the stories are fun and the graphics are bright and clear. Another group of books that is excellent for young readers is the "I Can Read" series. There are actually two levels in this series. The "Beginning I Can Read" books are excellent for a new reader, and the student can advance to the "I Can Read" series once enough experience and proficiency has been gained.

A child ready to read chapter books may enjoy the "Pee Wee Scouts" collection. These books are relatively short and simple, contain a somewhat limited vocabulary, and have fewer, simpler graphics. Both boys and girls enjoy these books.

Notice that I have not included the more traditional children's books, like Golden Books and Elf books. These books are wonderful, but they are not written for any particular grade level. If your young child wants to read books like this, that is fine, but be prepared to sit and read with your child. Let your child read the words they can figure out and help them with any advanced words they don't understand. This is an excellent way to help your child improve both vocabulary and reading level. I highly recommend it every time your child reads, no matter what book or reading level they are attempting.

Once your child reaches middle elementary reading level, about third grade and up, the selection of available books explodes. It is very difficult to recommend authors, since by this time children are developing specific tastes and know what they like. Some love sports, some enjoy mysteries, other children love adventure. Betsy Byars is a prolific author whose books are considered gender neutral, and are often available in school libraries which make them easy to find.

I would like to caution you at this point. I know parents are busy and have little time, but please try to read some part of any book your child is reading. Most children's books are very good, but I have read a few that absolutely horrified me. Watch for character development and the tone of dialogue. I have seen a few books that have presented cruelty and rudeness in characters as acceptable because they were "just misunderstood". Other books, perhaps in an attempt to make the characters sound "cool", contain rude and sarcastic dialogue. They remind me of some of today's television commercials, where the children roll their eyes in disgust, and act as if they are humiliated by their "idiot parents". If you are not comfortable with the moral lessons or attitude a book presents, you have two choices. You can take the book back or you can allow your child to read it and discuss what is unacceptable in the book. The latter is, although time consuming, an excellent opportunity to discuss moral issues with your child, a subject many parents have told me is very difficult to broach.

Selecting books for upper elementary aged students can be the most difficult. Children's authors try to write books with age appropriate content, including traditional children's issues. If your child is reading above grade level you will want to scan through any books they wish to read. Watch for mature content. If your child is comfortable reading Young Adult books (marked YA) for teens, be prepared to screen the books (read them first) or get an opinion from somebody who has read the books your child is interested in. Some books contain foul language and explore adult issues.

The greatest challenge comes when selecting books for an elementary aged child who is an extremely advanced reader. I often felt that I spent every waking minute reading books to approve for my sons when they were younger. If you have an extremely advanced reader who really enjoys good books, look for children's classics written in unabridged, original text. These books are often more challenging than modern books and the content is safe. Robert Louis Stevenson is an excellent author that both boys and girls can enjoy.

Here is a challenge for you. If your child is an advanced reader and wants to try to read an adult level novel, try Red Storm Rising or Hunt for Red October, both by Tom Clancy. His early books contain little or no foul language and no sex. Now, these are not books to push on a child to increase reading level. I'm only suggesting these books for children who are already extremely advanced and asking for more sophisticated titles.

Finally, I would like to mention that children do not have to read books that are at their current reading level. A child will often seem to regress in reading level, especially if his or her skill level is increasing dramatically. This is often a way for a child to rest a bit, and is quite necessary at times. Books that are below a child's reading level are excellent for improving proficiency, books at grade level are excellent for vocabulary building, and books above a child's reading level can actually help improve reading skills. So although finding books that will capture your child's interest are important, don't forget to have plenty of books, at many different levels, available.

If you would like more information about recommended reading levels, book reviews and suggested authors, you can check online at Resources. This page is small right now, but is being added to regularly.

I hope this helps.

Michele

If you have any questions, general or specific, about helping your child improve in school, you can contact Michele at: