1. Five-Finger Rule
The five-finger rule is a great tool to use when you are trying to determine if a book is “just right” for your reader.
Your child reads from any page in his or her book aloud.
Your child puts up a finger for each unknown word.
At end of the page, if your child has less than five fingers raised, the book is readable at an independent level.
If there are five or more mistakes, the book is too difficult for your child to read independently. This is a book you could read with your child.
To ensure comprehension, make sure your child can tell you at least two things about the page he or she read to you.

2. Questions to Check for Understanding
Does this book remind you of another book?
How does the book make you feel?
Do you like the book? Why or why not?
What does author want you to think or feel?
Why did you choose the book?
Would you recommend the book to a friend?
What do you think will happen?
How do you feel about the characters?
What problems are the characters facing?
Where and when does the story take place?
How does the author keep you interested?
Is there anything you would change about the book?
What are you wondering about?
Is there anything you didn’t understand?
Does this seem like a “just-right” book for you?
What is surprising about your book or this subject?