Five Finger Rule for Beginning Readers

1-2 minutes

As parents, we want to encourage our children to learn to love to read, but we’re often stymied by the right books to offer.

Here’s a quick trick to help you select a book at the right reading level for your beginning reader.

When at the library or bookstore, ask your children the kinds of stories they would like to read. Do they want to read about animals? Do they like stories about real people? Do they want to read about children their own age or someone older?

Be guided by your children’s natural inclinations. You can’t expect to motivate reluctant readers with a topic or story that doesn’t pique their interest. Ask the librarian for help with some selections if your reader doesn’t give you enough input.

If you have found a few books that appear to be in the right genre or about an interesting topic, you’ll want to make sure that your early reader can read the book without too much frustration.

What’s the right fit? 📏

Here is an easy way to find out if the book is right-sized and at the right reading level. 

Open the book to any page and ask your reader to read it aloud. You are looking to determine how many words your reader doesn’t know.

Use the fingers 🖐️ on one hand to count the number of words that your reader doesn’t know. You can even teach this trick to your beginning readers to help them pick a book that fits them just right!

0-1 new words – too easy

2-3 new words – just right

4 new words – you might give it a try, but it could be a reach

5 new words or more – wait a few months and try again

The Right Amount of Challenge 🏋️

You might be wondering, “Shouldn’t I challenge my child?” And of course you should want your reader to improve, but you also want your reader to feel successful at the early stages of reading. 

The knowledge that they can be successful instills confidence in new readers so that they do not give up too quickly when they do struggle to read a word properly or understand what something means.

Further, being able to read the words with fluency, recognizing words and knowing what they mean helps a reader with vocabulary development and building comprehension skills, which is the whole point of reading. 

If your readers insist on a book that seems too difficult, make the time to read it with them.  You read it aloud and pause at the words that they can read for themselves.  But insist that your reader also choose a book that is appropriate for them to read aloud to you.

If your reader is struggling, praise their hard work. Remind them that all new skills – throwing a ball, playing an instrument, making new friends – require practice.  But the reward is worth the effort.

And remember to bring that “too difficult” book back to your readers’ attention in a few month’s time. You and they will be pleasantly surprised when that previously “hard book” is now just right.

Happy reading! 💫