Gail Boushey
“She really wants Stephen King books, but she can’t read them yet.” This was part of a conversation I had with a middle school teacher about one of her students. I mentioned that I didn’t like scary books and had never read one of Stephen King’s. She was shocked. “How can you not like his writing and books?! They are so good! I own 80 of them!” I was intrigued, so I asked about the reading journey that led her to Stephen King.
She paused and reflected that when she was younger, she loved R. L. Stine, whose books were deliciously scary. While she talked, a light bulb was turned on in her mind: perhaps the Goosebumps series could be a stepping-stone on this student’s journey to Stephen King.
Knowledge of book levels comes in handy when helping a student find a good-fit book within a certain genre. We know that Secrets of Droon is easier for our fantasy lovers than Deltora Quest, which is easier than the City of Ember, which is a little easier than Percy Jackson, which is easier than Harry Potter, which is easier than Redwall. By using I-PICK, students can examine these and discover which ones should be part of their reading journey.
We know that Freedom Crossing is a little easier for our historical fiction lovers than Bright Freedom’s Song, which is a little easier than Stealing Freedom, and any one of those three could serve as an entry point to a reader’s journey on the Underground Railroad.
It’s up to us to honor a student’s passion, helping them find the perfect entry point into a genre they love. We do this by knowing books, knowing our readers, and introducing them to each other whenever we can.
News from The Daily CAFE
CAFE Connection . . .
The Second CAFE Lesson—Cross-Checking*
After introducing the comprehension strategy Check for understanding, we focus on accuracy. Here is the lesson.
Books to Grow On . . .
The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashely Spires*
Here is a charming look at perseverance and its rewards.
Finishing Well . . .
The Value of End of Year Assessments
End-of-year assessments can prove valuable to both teachers and students.
Focus on Health . . .
Hummingbird Wings
Carol Moehrle asks us to notice the delicate beauty of these remarkable birds.