(Continued from page 9) Reluctant Reader Resources Parent's Checklist Before buying, see how your selection rates by asking yourself: Is it the right reading level? Discuss your child's reading abilities with his teacher.  Ask which level of books is best for him to read on his own:  easy-to-read books such as Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day; chapter books like encyclopedia Brown; middle-grade books such as The Giver; or young adult books such as Lord of the Rings. Is it age-appropriate? If your child is reading below grade level but does not have a reading disability, extra practice at home should help her progress.  She may hate reading because it takes her a long time to figure words out.  Building her vocabulary will improve her fluency.  This will help her read faster and enjoy a story.  Use books that match her skill level to boost her vocabulary.  For instance, if her reading level is around first or second grade, easy-to-read books would help her master sight words, and improve fluency.  However, if the stories are too immature for her, try using games and other fun activities, including non-book activities.  Have books in your home that are recommended for his age level even if they're too difficult for him to read on his own right now.  Read these with him every day.  At this stage, it's important for him to learn that reading is enjoyable.  So if he is reluctant to sit for too long, don't force him.  Continue to encourage him to read and let him see you enjoying a book, magazine, or newspaper daily. Will she read it? If she likes what it is about, there is a better chance that she will read it. This may mean you won't like the book.  It may even mean what she reads isn't a book at all. That's okay. Anything that gets your child to read for pleasure and her own information will help her build her vocabulary and sharpen critical-reasoning skills.  Let your child choose her own books as long as they are not offensive or cause nightmares. Encourage her to read comic books, graphic novels, entertainment news, or sports magazines if she's interested in them.  If she has a collection of these already, look for books that are related to her interests such as a history of comic books or sports stories like Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli.      Info-Kids                                                 Take a look at these websites!!!      How to Use Nonfiction to Turn      Reluctant Readers into                    http://www.scholastic.ca/education/at-risk-      Enthusiastic Learners                      readers/books4boys.pdf      Ron Jobe and Mary Dayton-Sakari      2002                                             http://the 2rs.com/Jon_Scieszha.html      128 pp/paper      1-55138-143-5                               http://www.scholastic.com/familymatters/      $17.50                                           read/reluctant/bl_series.htm      A Pembroke title                                (Procedures For a Safe and Orderly School, See p. 11)