Another book list request (elementary)

[displace]

DS is reading Scholastic Branches chapter books well (yeah!).  I'm looking to move him on up in difficulty.  I don't care if it's a longer book or not.  He likes all the pictures but tends to also get distracted, especially with comic type books.  I do check out quality comic book series for his free reading interest but prefer recommendations with some pictures but not the whole page. 

 

Should we move to just regular elementary chapter books (like regular grade level lists), try a different measurement (like Lexile, etc)?  The problem is he has learned phonetically, can guess at a much higher level than he's at, but gets overwhelmed with too many words on a page still (a large paragraph or more), or with too many new words or long words, though he knows how to break down anything.  Lexile looked pretty worthless to me when I was looking at it before for guidance (levels never seemed to correlate with phonics IMO), but now that his reading level is higher I wonder if it will be useful.  Or maybe another reading guidance system.

 

Any recommendations?  I can also pre-read books, but I'm hopeful to have a starting point.

[OneStepAtATime]

Just tossing this out there but what about High Noon books?

[PeterPan]

Well fwiw, his reading level *might* be a lot higher than you think.  I had ds tested and was surprised.   ;)  So when you think of it that way, you're looking for maybe a higher reading level of text, maybe up through 4th or 5th grade, but correlated to pictures to keep working on comprehension and visualization.  That will be developmentally appropriate and continue to develop his language.

 

Do you do Bible?  I've got my ds reading a Beginner's Bible that has one picture per page and 1-3 sentences of text.  It's just enough without being too much.  Reading level ballparks those Branches books or maybe a little higher.  When we finish it, I'm hoping to move him on to the next level.

 

The How to Report on Books for gr1-2 has a list of picture books to go with each of the pages.  Your ds could read the picture books.

 

The tutor who did our eval this month suggested I pursue non-fiction with him.  There's plenty of non-fiction with pictures with that sort of 2nd-5th grade reading level, mercy. (Usborne, etc.)  Ds does have that tendency to shut down with a new, harder path.  I feed him pistachios while we work.  I'm using them now to reinforce noticing end punctuation.  So he hits the period/question mark/whatever and gets a pistachio.  Phrasing and fun in one, haha.

Edited July 24, 2016 by OhElizabeth

[kbutton]

If he's having trouble with a lot of text, it could be his eyes (and may even be age-appropriate barring other issues). 

 

Can you cover up parts of the page as he reads or take turns with him?

 

We did regular early chapter books (The Littles, Cam Jansen, etc.) at that stage, but small text was really hard for one of mine. They both had vision issues that were addressed by a developmental optometrist. Another option would be to magnify the text--you can do this under fair use on a copier if you have to. If you have an e-reader that lets you do it, that might be another option.

 

My littler guy has a severe astigmatism, and it's not unusual for people with a strong astigmatism to need more light when they read. Sometimes a lot more. 

[kbutton]

The tutor who did our eval this month suggested I pursue non-fiction with him.  There's plenty of non-fiction with pictures with that sort of 2nd-5th grade reading level, mercy. (Usborne, etc.)  

 

We used leveled readers for non-fiction, but if it does turn out to be eyes, some of them will be too cluttered and/or small text. If it's not text size that is the issue, they may be ideal.

 

I know Step Into Reading went over well here (they have biographies). I can't remember all the brands we liked. Our library has a section for this too. Teacher stores usually carry a variety of these kinds of books. Sometimes they have magazines too.

 

Oh, something like Ranger Rick Jr. might be good for additional, low pressure reading that isn't overwhelming! My little guy loved Ranger Rick Jr. and now the regular one. You might borrow one from the library to see.

[displace]

Just tossing this out there but what about High Noon books?

Thanks for the reminder.  I'll browse their website again.  I tend to look at them and then forget about them. 

[displace]

Well fwiw, his reading level *might* be a lot higher than you think.  I had ds tested and was surprised.   ;)  So when you think of it that way, you're looking for maybe a higher reading level of text, maybe up through 4th or 5th grade, but correlated to pictures to keep working on comprehension and visualization.  That will be developmentally appropriate and continue to develop his language.

 

Do you do Bible?  I've got my ds reading a Beginner's Bible that has one picture per page and 1-3 sentences of text.  It's just enough without being too much.  Reading level ballparks those Branches books or maybe a little higher.  When we finish it, I'm hoping to move him on to the next level.

 

The How to Report on Books for gr1-2 has a list of picture books to go with each of the pages.  Your ds could read the picture books.

 

The tutor who did our eval this month suggested I pursue non-fiction with him.  There's plenty of non-fiction with pictures with that sort of 2nd-5th grade reading level, mercy. (Usborne, etc.)  Ds does have that tendency to shut down with a new, harder path.  I feed him pistachios while we work.  I'm using them now to reinforce noticing end punctuation.  So he hits the period/question mark/whatever and gets a pistachio.  Phrasing and fun in one, haha.

 

We're getting repeat evals soon so ATM I'm not certain his reading grade level.  My guess is 3rd, somewhere.  I'll look into Usborne non-fiction.  We went through most of the library's fiction early readers but the non-fiction may be a good option.  We don't do a formal bible study ATM.  He did like those leveled readers.

[displace]

If he's having trouble with a lot of text, it could be his eyes (and may even be age-appropriate barring other issues). 

 

Can you cover up parts of the page as he reads or take turns with him?

 

We did regular early chapter books (The Littles, Cam Jansen, etc.) at that stage, but small text was really hard for one of mine. They both had vision issues that were addressed by a developmental optometrist. Another option would be to magnify the text--you can do this under fair use on a copier if you have to. If you have an e-reader that lets you do it, that might be another option.

 

My littler guy has a severe astigmatism, and it's not unusual for people with a strong astigmatism to need more light when they read. Sometimes a lot more. 

 

We are getting VT for his eyes.  I don't know how much it will improve (we're 2/3 done with VT).  I used to cover up the page, but it tends to cover up the pictures, and he gets frustrated more with that.  He doesn't like to feel like he's covering up things.  His ability to read more on one page has improved over time so I'm hopeful as he ages and his reading gets better it will improve.  Some type is difficult for him (some of the comic book fonts), so I'll keep that in mind when browsing. 

 

Honestly, I think I just need 2 hours at a good bookstore to look through everything!

[nature girl]

All the Catwings books were a huge favorite here, at that stage. DD read the first few books of the Droon series too, loved it but then seemed to lose interest. We're working our way through The Lighthouse Family series by Rylant (LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!!) and she has a number of books at that level. Hmmm...Scanning through our book baskets as I write this.

 

The My Father's Dragon trilogy was also just a step up. Also: Frindle, The Chocolate Touch, Raggedy Ann and Andy, The Boxcar Children series, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Pippi Longstocking, Mr. Popper's Penguins, and much of Roald Dahl is at that reading level too. We're also reading Edgar Eager, which is maybe a touch harder than the others but still works for side-by-side popcorn reading.

 

All of these have larger print, and pictures every few pages to break up all the text. They've been working really well to transition DD to "real" books.

[PeterPan]

We're getting repeat evals soon so ATM I'm not certain his reading grade level.  My guess is 3rd, somewhere.  I'll look into Usborne non-fiction.  We went through most of the library's fiction early readers but the non-fiction may be a good option.  We don't do a formal bible study ATM.  He did like those leveled readers.

 

Well what she did on us was the DAR, and I was pretty surprised.  You mentioned he's guessing.  If he has a high vocabulary, then it's not like just random guessing but actually more like educated piecing together.  On my ds, it meant his actual reading level, where he could read and answer questions, was multiple grades higher than his decoding level, largely driven by his even higher vocabulary level.  I'm guessing if you got the DAR or something similar you'd find a jump like that.  

[displace]

I don't know DAR. But with reading tests in the past, like a DORA reading test or even Iowa, you're right. He's scores high because he usually knows the material already and just answers comprehension questions, kind of skimming passages. You're right, it's educated guessing. Some words he guesses that he could actually read, but he just has that instinct to guess. :)

[Kat w]

Well what she did on us was the DAR, and I was pretty surprised. You mentioned he's guessing. If he has a high vocabulary, then it's not like just random guessing but actually more like educated piecing together. On my ds, it meant his actual reading level, where he could read and answer questions, was multiple grades higher than his decoding level, largely driven by his even higher vocabulary level. I'm guessing if you got the DAR or something similar you'd find a jump like that.

Ohhhhh, that's what you meant about vocab the other day.

Gotchya now. And makes me feel better. :)

[Kanin]

Melvin Beederman, Superhero has a grade level of 3.3. It's about a hapless superhero kid who has some troubles being a superhero (namely, flying :). The evil villains are funny and overall the books are just great! This series got one of my very ADHD, anti-paragraph readers to read. 

 

There are lots of pages with just a few sentences and a big picture. You could buddy read and do the longer pages (3 paragraphs) if he's okay with that :)

 

https://www.amazon.com/Bologna-Sandwich-Melvin-Beederman-Superhero/dp/0805078363

[Lecka]

This is an aside, but for me, I was very worried about guessing. There is so much warning not to guess or read by context clues with dyslexia.

 

But then -- there is a point where it can be okay to figure out some words by using context clues.

 

It is not the same as guessing, bc if kids do figure out the word and then look at the word phonetically, they are learning.

 

I think if the guessing is more of a "figuring out a word here and there by using context clues," that it is really fine.

 

If it is a wild guessing, without re-reading and checking to see if the word you have guessed can match the word on the page..... Then that is not the same.

[frogger]

I like the Level 3 I Can Read Books especially the historical ones. They have a picture on every page and white space around the words and a nice large font.  https://www.amazon.com/dp/0064441008/ref=rdr_ext_sb_ti_sims_2

 

The DK Readers Level 3 look even more mature, which are nice for older readers but they are also have a higher lexile score and more difficult vocab than the aforementioned I Can Read books. Although, my son struggles with books that have too simple a vocabulary because the linguistic gymnastics sometimes required for writing a book with only simple words leaves my son as confused as ever. :)    DK Readers have topics likes "Spies" or "The Titanic" and they also have more white space and and large font and pictures on every page but not all over the page.  Here is a sample that has the look inside feature.  https://www.amazon.com/DK-Readers-L3-Spacebusters-Race/dp/0756690846/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1469418067&sr=1-1&keywords=dk+readers+level+3 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 25, 2016 by frogger

[mzstewart]

Stepping Stones chapter books sound like they are right at the level you are looking for. Lots of great choices for content.

 

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[displace]

Thanks for the great suggestions:). I'm glad to have a next step.