Genre: A Step Further (Lesson 1)

This week, your child is reading Sharon Creech's A Fine, Fine, School as a main selection. Like many of our new reading series' selections, this book is AR (level 3.3, 0.5 points). If you read the last post, you know by now that I am a firm believer in helping children find a book to which they can relate.

A Fine, Fine School tells the story of Mr. Keene, principal at a laughably perfect elementary school. He decides one day to make school days longer, eventually to the chagrin of the students. It's a great story for students who don't enjoy school, as many of them can relate to feeling like they are always in class.

This title is best categorized as Humorous Fiction. When reading these kinds of books with your child, be sure to discuss what makes it humorous. Is it the characters? Is it their actions? Is it the dialogue?

If your child enjoyed this story, they may enjoy others like it. Look for these funny books (all available in my class library):

• Click, Clack, Moo: The Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin (level 2.3, 0.5 points)
• Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann (level 3.4, 0.5 points)
• Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin (level 2.8, 0.5 points)
• Substitute Creacher by Chris Gall (level 3.6, 0.5 points)
• The True Story of the Three Little Pigs (level 3.0, 0.5 points)
• The Magic Finger (level 3.1, 0.5 points)

Promoting Literacy

One of my favorite things about being an educator is helping boys and girls discover their passion for reading. I ask students to tell me their favorite books at the beginning of the year, which influences the books I put in our class library. Every year, there's always that one (sometimes more than that) student who doesn't like to read. My mantra is, "If you don't like to read, you haven't found the right book yet." It's important to help students discover that just-right book.

I remember being a reluctant reader in fifth grade, more content with the instant gratification of a television screen. My teacher, Ms. Herman, was a firm believer in daily read-alouds. I'll never forget the day she started reading a book I had never heard of, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I had never heard a story quite like it. I made my grandma take me to Wal-Mart that day and buy me the book so that I could read ahead!

The thing that made the Harry Potter series so appealing for me was not the magical aspect; it was how relatable the protagonist was. I grew up alongside this character. As he navigated the hallways of Hogwarts, I was trying to survive the awkwardness of middle school.

It's important that we help students find their own relatable character. We can't expect students to enjoy reading unless we help them invest in it.

Here are some different links to help you get started:

Books for Reluctant Boy Readers

Brave Books for Girls (Not Princesses)

Best of 2011