Believe it or not… A Lot! One of our first lessons in literacy this year was about “good fit” books. We use the acronym IPICK when discussing how and which books to pick.
I stands for I choose. Choice is extremely important in whether a book will be read and finished. The beginning of every morning children have the opportunity to “shop” for books to put in their book boxes. Similar to shopping for shoes, it is more likely you will wear shoes that you had a hand in picking out.
P stands for Purpose. Why do you want to read that book? We read for many different purposes: for fun, to learn new information, to help us understand how to do something, etc. When we discussed the shoes I brought to share, the students agreed that the purpose of my ski boots is to keep my feet warm and supported while attached to my skis.
I stands for Interest. Does it interest me? I am sure many of us adults remember the books we’ve been handed to read-some were right up our alley and others we simply were not interested in. The same holds true for our children-they are much more likely to read and enjoy a book with a topic that interests them. The children have learned I am interested in skiing because I own a pair of ski boots.
C stands for Comprehension. Am I understanding what I am reading? When a child can tell us the who and what of a book they are reading, we know they understand it. One of the first reading strategies we taught this year was Check for Understanding. When children struggle to read the words or breeze through an easy book, it is really easy to miss some of the important details. A “good fit” book is one where we know what’s happening and can articulate it.
K stands for Know Most of the Words. When a child reads a “good fit” book, he/she may have to figure out a few words but most words should be easily read. The second strategy we’ve taught is Cross Checking. When you do come to a word that’s hard to figure out, there are 3 questions that you have to ask yourself as you try to figure out the word: Does it look right? (Not only does that mean the sounds match up with the letters but does the word go along with the picture), Does it sound right? (When you go back and reread the sentence, does the word you are trying fit with the rest of the sentence), and Does it make sense? (The word you tried should make sense within what is happening in the story.)
As your child is reading at home, please remember IPICK as a way to ensure your child is choosing a “good fit” book. As the children and I discussed, even though my flip-flops fit my feet, I wouldn’t want to wear them skiing or I would get icicle toes!
