Families often ask why one child brings home a shorter book than a friend in the same class. The short answer is that the books are matched to reading behaviour rather than to age or year level.
What we are watching for
We are looking for a book a child can read with about 95 per cent accuracy, hard enough to require effort, easy enough that meaning never breaks down. Below that, reading becomes decoding and comprehension falls away.
Why the level can go sideways
A child can sit at the same level for several weeks while fluency and expression catch up to decoding. That is normal and it is not a plateau.
What helps at home
Ten to fifteen minutes, most nights. Let them re-read favourites. Talking about the book matters as much as finishing it.
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