Is It Really Appropriate?

Last week, I got my “The Big Fresh Newsletter” email from Choice Literacy, and I LOVE the concept this month. It was entitled, “What’s Appropriate?” As a fifth grade teacher, this is a question that is constantly at the forefront of book selection for my students. Even though most fifth graders think that they are “all grown up,” they just aren’t. I am a huge fan of Young Adult fiction (huge), but much of it just isn’t appropriate for fifth graders, and it certainly isn’t appropriate for younger kids.

One of my closest friends teaches first grade, and she encounters even bigger problems in this area. She often has parents saying things like, “But he/she can read at a 5th grade level!” Which leads me to the point of this post. . . Just because they can, does NOT mean they should! Much of the literature available for older readers has content that is either too advanced, too mature, or too complex for younger children. That is why the books are written for older audiences.
One of the links in this Big Fresh newsletter addresses this matter exactly (and in fact, is called, “Just Because They Can, Doesn’t Mean They Should”). Enjoy the read, and feel free to pass it on to parents!
Just Because They Can Doesn't Mean They Should: Choosing Age-Appropriate Books for Literature Circles