Hello! 

I currently teach 4th grade at a bilingual school in California (French/English and Chinese/English program). We only have about two hours a day with our classes. With such limited time I was seeking advice for when students pick their own Good-Fit Books. I completely value the IPICK system, but with limited time I'm not sure how to balance between them finding books and me giving them a few books to pick from. (I'm also just returning from maternity leave and they haven't been using IPICK at all yet this year).

1. Interest is so important but a lot of times kids say they don’t like any of them. When asked what kinds of books they like, they either say "Nothing" or "I don’t know." Or if they do say something and I give them a few, they still say they aren’t interested in any of them.  What to do then? I don't want them to have nothing in their book boxes, but I also don't want them to dislike any book I give them.

2. Is it okay to give them a few different leveled books to pick from and they go through the IPICK? Or perhaps we give them at least one leveled book that we know is on their level and then they can go through IPICK for a second book for their book box?

3. How many books do you let your students have in their book box at one time?

Any feedback/advice is welcomed!

Melanie