Matching books to learners

• Learners must be matched to suitable books, based on their interests and reading level.
• The five-finger rule is a simple way to match learners to appropriately levelled books.
• Have an assortment of different levelled books available. While learners are reading independently, call them up one by one to read aloud to you for five minutes.
• As the learner reads, count how many mistakes he or she makes:
  • 5 or more mistakes in 5 sentences = book level is too high/difficult
  • 0-1 mistakes in 5 sentences = book level is too low/easy.
  • 2-4 mistakes in 5 sentences = book level is appropriate.

Turn to page 23 of your Reading Champions Manual to read more about matching books to learners.   

Activity

• If you can, ask a child who is in the Foundation Phase to read this passage from a book.
• Count the mistakes the child makes to work out if this book matches the child’s reading level.
• Describe your experience in your notebook.