Dear Parent/Guardian,

Your child is currently working on the literacy strategy, Read texts that are a good fit, which helps with the overall goal, Fluency.

Have you ever spoken with a doctor, auto mechanic, or computer support person who used vocabulary that was outside your background knowledge? This is comparable to reading a book that is too difficult. For readers to have high success, they must spend time with material they can read with 99–100 percent accuracy. We encourage students to select books that are a good fit so that they are successful and enjoy reading. Working on the strategy Read texts that are a good fit will help your child read smoothly, engaging in texts they can read without difficulty, which leads to increased comprehension.

How can you help your child with this strategy at home?
  1. When your child goes to read a text, have him or her use the I-PICK method to explain why that specific text was chosen. Ask your child, “Is that a good-fit book for you? Show me how you know that.” The I-Pick method is described below:
    • I – I pick a book
    • P – Purpose (What is my purpose for choosing this book?)
    • I – Interest (Am I interested in this book?)
    • C – Comprehend (Do I understand what I just read?)
    • K – Know (Do I know most of the words?)
  2. Model the I-PICK method for your child. Take a book you are reading and go through I-Pick to set an example for what it looks like and sounds like to review reading selection choices.
  3. Help your child recognize when a text is too difficult. They are taught to ask:
    • Do I know almost all of the words?
    • Is this book hard to understand?
    • When I read it does it sound choppy and slow?
  4. Reassure your child that a text that is too difficult now, won't be in the future, so they can just put that book on hold for a while. And keep in mind that their listening level is above their reading level, so it is always appropriate for you to read the “just out of reach” books to your child.
Thank you for your continued support at home!

—Mrs. Boushey

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