What is independent reading?
- Independent reading means:
- Reading at a student’s comfort level
- Reading for the love of reading
- Reading literature they enjoy
- Reading for pleasure
Why is it important?
- Reading independently matters because:
- Enjoying reading is a big part of learning to read well.
- Reading independently is a key factor in learning to read.
- Reading independently means reading without struggling.
- Reading independently builds confidence - the feeling of “Yes, I can read!”
- Reading independently leads to increased vocabulary, knowing more words.
- Reading independently builds reading skills, helps students practice how to read.
- Ultimately, reading independently leads to a lifelong love of reading.
How can I find my child’s independent level (comfort level)?
- Use the 5 word technique.
- Open the book to any page.
- Ask the student to read the page silently. Count the number of new/unfamiliar words.
- If students find more than 5 words they don’t know, this book may be too hard.
- Ask the experts. Teachers and librarians love to recommend books!
- Let child choose! Independent reading needs to be fun and comfortable.
- If your children want to read books that look “too easy” – let them read those books. Many picture books are very high quality literature.
- Graphic Novels look like comic books, but they are awesome for reading at a comfort level. They are full of illustrations, often with just a few words per page.
- Rereading is good! Reading a familiar book again and again is valuable in many ways.
