The Goldilocks Rule

The Goldilocks Rule

Is this book just right?

Ask yourself these questions when picking out and even while reading a book. If your answer is YES, the book is probably:

TOO EASY

• Have you read it lots of times before?
• Do you understand the story very well?
• Do you know almost every word?
• Can you read it smoothly?

TOO HARD

• Are there more than 5 words on a page you don't know?
• Are you confused about what is happening in most of this book?
• When you read, does it sound pretty choppy?
• Is everyone else busy and unable to help you?

JUST RIGHT

• Is the book new to you?
• Do you understand a lot of the book?
• Are there just a few words a page that you don't know?
• When you read, are some places smooth and some choppy?

Don't get me wrong...it is ALWAYS okay to re-read book! We just need to make sure we are exposing our children to other books. Remember this is ONLY a guideline. If children are interested in a topic but there are MANY difficult words for them...they just may be able to read the book due to their interest level, which is GREAT! We just don't want students ALWAYS struggling because they are picking TOO HARD of books.

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The Tiger Rising

The Tiger Rising

By: Kate DiCamillo

This is one of my all time favorite books. It touched my heart in so many ways that I will forever be changed from reading it.

It is a story of a boy named Rob who has always found himself bullied by the kids at his school for being different. When a new girl, named Sistine, moves to town Rob and Sistine find safety spending time with one another. They are able to confide in one another and take on an unusual friend whom they can relate to in many different ways.

Haven been "the new kid" many times in my life I could feel Sistine's fears when she walked on to the bus for the first time. I also felt my own heart break with hers as the kids proceeded to make fun of her clothing and also her name. Kids can be so cruel to one another and once you are out casted it is difficult if ever to get into "the crowd."

Rob and Sistine find a tiger locked up in a cage behind the motel Rob lives in and he fights within himself daily on weather or not to what he feels is the right thing by letting the tiger go.

We watch both characters grow from page one to the last page where they learn that life is difficult for all things living on this earth.

Pages: 116

Awards: National Book Award Finalist

Other Titles by Kate DiCamillo: Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tale of Despereaux

Getting There!

I forgot how much work it was to get a blog up and running! The first time I started my blog I wasn't also trying to keep up with another blog ;) I promise I really am going to get this blog running! I really feel it is something that will help sooo many people out there. Please check out some of the links I have posted along the left-hand sidebar. Half my problem of not getting any new posts is I have gotten so caught up with all the amazing websites showing lists and lists and lists of books that I can't stop looking into! I promise I will share individual ones soon. Until then, keep reading what you have on your night stand and check out the Awards and Links to Love on my sidebar.

Read, Relax and Enjoy,

A New Blog Site

I have started this blog because as a mom of two and a former middle school Language Arts teacher I believe there are MANY wonderful text for kids to not only learn from but also ENJOY! During the 12 years I taught, I saw child after child who struggled to find a book that they never wanted to put down. Instead, they usually ended up with books they never picked up! It really does sadden me to have these young adults missing out on all these amazing places they could get lost in.

Getting students to read was always based on the number of points the books were worth or the reading levels that were printed on them. It isn't that I don't think books should be labeled with reading levels. I just believe in teaching the students how to choose a "just right" book for themselves based off of their interests and needs. I used to tell my kids in class that when I enter a bookstore I am not greeted with a "Hello, Mrs. Beightol what reading level are you or how many points do you still need to reach your goal?" Instead I got help with where certain genres, authors, or topics were located. This is I how I believe we should be helping our young adults.

To fall in love so much with a character that you don't want the book to end is what I hope for all children to experience in life!

With this blog my hope is to connect parents, teachers and students with books that you can pick up, get lost in and hope it never ends.

So please, stop in often leave comments and suggestions. I want this to be a place where we can all come to find books to enjoy for a lifetime!