The Five Finger Rule

The "Five Finger Rule" can help you find a book that is "just right" for you!

1. Open to a page of the book.
2. Begin reading.
3. Each time you come to a word you don’t know, hold up 1 finger.
4. After you finish reading the page, check to see how many fingers you are holding up.      

Too Easy: 0 - 1 fingers
Just Right: 2 - 3 fingers

Too Hard: 4 - 5 fingers

Here's the chart we made as we learned about this strategy. 

I found a great bookmark that I shared with my class to help them remember this strategy.

Click here if you would like to download the bookmark.

Once students find a 'just right' book, they are able to put that book in their their individual book boxes.