Tips for Parents

Stay in the Zone!

It sounds simple, but to keep your child reading, pick books in his or her reading comfort zone. Scientists call it the Zone of Proximal Development.  It's that sweet spot where reading is beneficial and fun, where vocabulary and reading comprehension are at 80% or better.  Harder books (above the zone) are frustrating, below the zone the reader is not learning. 

This is a powerful way to help your child become a reader and yet parents are forced to use guess-work, a random process that risks frustrating their children with books that are too hard or to easy.  But there is a way:

First, know your child's reading level, in grade-equivalent terms, e.g., a 2.1 (second grade, first month). Ask your child's teacher or ask us set up a quick FREE assessment for you, on-line or at our center.

Second, convert to a reading zone, ZPD using the table here which gives a range of book difficulty for each student reading level.  In earlier grades they the ZPD tends to be around or slightly above their level, in later grades it flips to the reverse, at level or lower.

Third, find books in the zone.  There are book lists on-line but we recommend this link, then click "book lists."  This is a huge searchable site -- by difficulty, subject and age-appropriateness, and by recommended lists or awards.

Fourth, every 3-4 months check in on your child's reading level and re-set the reading zone, the ZPD.