Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy What's the next step re: reading?

So my DD6 is reading at a 5-6th grade level? (I think -- new MAPs with new lexile scores coming tomorrow). Luckily she LOVES to read and can read a chapter book a day in addition to homework. But she has really been at beginning chapter books for at least 2 years now: Junie B Jones (started on these the summer she was turning 4), Cam Jansen, Judy Moody, Magic Treehouse and the Littles. She reads them, she gets them, she writes full sentence answers to the comprehension questions about them....over and over. I honestly though do not know what the next step is? Her parent-teacher conference is tomorrow and I'd like to get an idea of what I am asking for -- any suggestions??

Is there a next harder level (that is still content appropriate for a 6 year old)? Is there another type of book? (I tried her on a graphic novel and it wasn't really her favorite). Help! Thanks!

There are plenty of harder chapter books to move up to, but it isn't as obvious what their levels are (as opposed to those thin early chapter books that are all around gr 1-3 level, like the ones you're talking about). Use her interests to guide you here:

http://www.arbookfind.com/

Thanks Ultramarina! I guess I should mention we have read a few others at home - like Little House and Kit Kitteredge -- but they are not assigning anything like that at school. I will go check out that site!

Hi Artsmartmom,

My dd, nearly 6 with a similar reading level, really enjoys the Lady Grace series of mysteries (some have references to murder in them, which aren't ever discussed in any detail - usually just to set the scene - but many of them don't too. I just mention that as even a reference to it freaks dd out).

She also likes Roald Dahl's books, anything by Enid Blyton, the Alice Miranda series, the Clarice Bean series, The Spiderwick Chronicles series. We tried the Series of Unfortunate Events books, but dd was a bit overwhelmed by their gruesomeness. We've been sharing reading the early Harry Potters.

I'm sure you'll get lots of suggestions. Best of luck!

With my oldest DD, this was the point we really went to the classics, although I think she may have been 7 and not 6. I remember her reading things like The Little Mermaid, Mary Poppins, Mr. Popper's Penguin, Peter Pan, and Secret Garden. She also enjoyed Louis Sacher's Sideways Stories of Wayside School and Barbara Robinson's The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. She also loved the Little House on the Prairie books (unabridged not the early chapter books) and the more recent stories based on Little House.

Good luck!

These are great suggestions -- thanks, and keep 'em coming -- I've written them all down! I forgot we have read Ivy & Bean and I had planned to start Harry Potter with us reading together. I think she will love some of the classics as well. I have them on a library list for TODAY!

But for the teacher, who is stuck in the rut of the "bag book" which is an easy chapter book which comes home every night -- reads 3 chapters, answers 12 questions, sends it back. What do I suggest to her for the next level of reading (not to mention trying to convince her to send math instead of reading once per week or so -- but that is a different topic.) Like, I am so old the only next thing I can think of is a longer book she has all week and a book report! But, that seems so old school -- is there something in between for a 6 year old?