I sat down last night and chose books for Ben’s 2nd grade reading list for the year. With MFW, we use a “book basket,” which basically means that for each unit we study, library books (picture books, geography and science books, etc.) are place in a basket. For 15 minutes a day, he can read anything from that basket he chooses. He doesn’t have to read aloud or complete an entire book, it’s more about the exposure to different books and spending some designated quiet time with them. I love it. But……
I also want to make sure he’s really really reading. And in the past few months his attention span has caught up somewhat with his reading level and is allowing the reading of chapter books. Also that love of reading for pleasure if finally kicking in with him. So for about 15 minutes a day (the equivlalent of about 1 chapter), I’m having Ben read aloud to me.
So here is the list of chapter books I’ve selected for him to read aloud this year. The list came from read aloud or reader selections from MFW-ECC, Sonlight and Heart of Dakota. If you’re wondering, I would say most of these books are an average of 3rd-4th grade reading level. They should be fine for your advanced 2nd grade reader or average 3rd or 4th grade reader.
Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner
Encyclopedia Brown by Donald J. Sobol
Capyboppy by Bill Peet
A Llama in the Family by Johanna Hurwitz
The Apple and the Arrow by Conrad Buff
The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman
Owls in the Family by Farley Mowat
Dolphin Adventure by Wayne Grover
Little Pear by Eleanor Frances Lattimore
Mieko and the Fifth Treasure by Eleanor Coerr
My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
Dr. Doolittle by Hugh Lofting
A Mouse Called Wolf by Dick King-Smith
Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater
The Lighthouse Family Series by Cynthia Rylant