Last week, we began a reading unit on how to choose "just right" books. The purpose of this unit is to help us to become better readers by learning how to choose books that feel just right to read independently. These books should have only one or two tricky spots. This helps us to become fluent and competent readers. We are also learning to read for meaning, as we always read first for meaning. It is important that when your child brings home books to read he or she practices retelling the story in sequence after reading. Being able to retell the story will assure you that the books are right for your child. The content of this unit includes:

• thinking about what a "just right"  book feels like
• learning how to choose books to read independently
• understanding how independent reading helps us become better readers
• knowing that a "just right" book has only one or two tricky spots
• knowing that readers read fluently (smoothly--like the way we talk)
• understand that we read for meaning first 

Starting Tuesday, we will be choosing our own independent reading books during our classroom library center time. This means your child will have the opportunity to choose their own books every six days as that is how long it takes the entire class to rotate through the center.