Literature list for 3rd &5th grader

I have a wide age range, so I try to schedule a variety of levels when choosing read alouds.  You can also add books that aren’t on the list, especially since most of us keep up with read-alouds year round.  We are reading a pretty silly book right now (Half Magic) and they are really enjoying it.  It’s been a great reminder for me to throw in some variety.

My read aloud list is always much longer than we can read in a year.  I think it’s helpful to just choose one book, read it, and when you are close to the last chapter choose the next book off your list.  Any time you find a book that sounds good add it to your list.  It may end up chosen before some that were already on the list and it may not, but you won’t forget the title if you keep it all on one list.

As for how much you can read aloud in a year, this varies by family and situation (and that changes often!).  We generally read aloud 10-12 chapter books for homeschool book club each year, plus some literature just because we want to read it in our family, plus the history read alouds we do.  BUT I also make use of audio books sometimes for our ‘read alouds’.  We treat them like a read aloud and gather together, listen to one chapter, and shut it off.  Nobody gets ahead on their own and we rarely binge listen (listen to half the book in a sitting).  We try to keep it to a slow, steady, digestible pace.

Just so you know, there is no read aloud police.  Nobody will tell you that you are doing it wrong.  What works for your family is just that – what works for your family.  I know different things have worked at my house over the years because I have had an ever-expanding family with 9 babies and 13 pregnancies and everyone is continually growing into new ages and stages. Do more of what works and less of what doesn’t!