The five-finger rule is a strategy from a student agency to help early reader students choose a personal reading with the perfect difficulty for each one independently.

Tip: Paste this poster in the corner of the classroom library so that they can support themselves in the choice

Pick a Book: Choose one from your classroom library.

Open a Page: Flip to any random page.

Start Reading: Read word by word.

Count: Raise a finger for each word you don't know or can't say.

Check: At the end of the paragraph, see how many fingers you have up.

Decide: Use your finger count to see if this book is a good fit.