Matching Books to Children

Matching Books to Children At Benson Primary School, we understand that it can be difficult trying to find a book that is "just right" for each student. To simplify the process, we introduce the students to the "Goldilocks" method of choosing appropriate reading materials:

TOO EASY BOOKS
Ask yourself these questions. If you are answering YES, this book is probably a “Too Easy” book for you. Have fun reading it!
1. Have you read it lots of times before?
2. Do you understand the story (text) well?
3. Do you know (can you understand) almost every word?
4. Can you read it smoothly?

JUST RIGHT BOOKS
Ask yourself these questions. If you are answering YES, this book is probably a “Just Right” book for you. Go ahead and learn from it!
1. Is this book new to you?
2. Do you understand some of the book?
3. Are there just a few words per page you don’t know?
4. When you read, are some places smooth and some choppy?
5. Can someone help you with this book? Who?

TOO HARD BOOKS
Ask yourself these questions. If you are answering YES, this book is probably a “Too Hard” book for you. Spend a little time with it now. Give it another try later, maybe in a month or two.
1. Are there more than a few words on a page that you don’t know?
2. Are you confused about what is happening in most of this book?
3. When you read, does it sound pretty choppy?

It’s fine to read books that are too easy ONCE IN A WHILE, as well as attempting books that may be too difficult. However, to be confident and successful readers, we have to spend the majority of our time reading "Just Right" books.

At Benson, the classroom teacher administers the DRA to ascertain an appropriate reading level for each child as part of a balanced literacy program. The purpose of matching books to readers is to provide the "just right books" - those that will provide reading opportunities that will help children develop an effective reading process (Matching Books to Readers, Fountas & Pinnell).

Use these links below to find book suggestions at your child’s instructional level: