Just Right Books

     We have readers in room 206! Yes, the kindergartners are reading books and loving it! We recently practiced choosing Just Right Books. It is important for the kids to have choice in the books that they read, but more importantly, we want them choosing books that are "just right" or at their guided reading level. We want all students to be reading at a level C by the end of kindergarten. Below, you will find pictures of the kids book shopping for the first time on their own. They loved it! We go book shopping each week to find just right books to read during read to self time. 
     Finding a just right book can be compared to riding a bike on a flat road. It's a smooth ride, not too easy, and not too hard. It's also enjoyable. This is important so that the kindergartners enjoy reading and understand what they are reading. They should be able to answer questions regarding the story that they read independently. If a book is too challenging, it is like riding bike up a hill. The kids will get frustrated, will most likely give up, and will get hung up on decoding words that they do not know. The kids will not find joy in reading those books. If a book is too easy, it's like riding bike down a hill. The kids will read it too quickly, and as a result, will not comprehend or understand anything that they read. 
    We have been working on expression through the use of readers theater scripts from our reading curriculum. It's important that students read smoothly with an interesting voice. We don't want to sound like a robot. Today, we practiced expression by changing our volume and pitch in our voice in a way that makes sense with what we are reading. 
     We also have some kindergartners performing The Three Little Pigs below. They decided to do it during choice time, and I just had to capture a video of it. 
     I hope to see you at Fun Night this Friday!