The Five Finger Test: to check the reading level of a book.

  1. Open the book to the middle. Select a full page of text.
     
  2. Read the page (aloud if possible).
     
  3. Put one finger up for every word you cannot pronounce or do not know the meaning of.
     
  4. If you get 5 fingers up on one page, the book is too difficult to read independently.
     
    • Four (4) fingers up may indicate the same.
     
  5. If you do not get any fingers up, but are reading very slowly and decoding almost every word, you will not enjoy the book.
     
  6. If you complete the page with 3 fingers up, you have a tough decision to make.
     
    • If the book's summary sounds great, then try the book.
     
  7. Zero (0), 1 or 2 fingers and the book is probably a good choice. Enjoy!