What does everyone do for reading? Do you go by a reading list? Or do you use a reading program? I have a ds7 (1st grade) and dd9 (4th grade). Both are probably right at reading level.
When Ems was younger, we used a program. Now that she is older, I choose the books she will read. Usually they go along with what she is covering in history and sometimes health. Sometimes they are classics and do not go along with anything we are covering. She also reads for speed and comp skills. Usually they are short selections.
Oh, you're talking my language! I've never used a program for reading. For phonics, yes, but not reading. Programs are boring! Kids come programed for story. It's something built in. Use it to hook kids on reading! There are so many great books out there. Check out award winners. Try the classics like Patty said, or search for a book that that goes along with your subject matter. Find out what interests your kids. Read reviews, look online, hit the library. Your choices are endless. Find great stories and kids will want to read!
Usually I use Christian Light reading program, or if that's not working for the student (too difficult), I've used Pathways readers. I have used Rod&Staff's reading (gr 2-4), but used it for Bible while using CLE or Pathways for reading. I've also supplemented with some of the Abeka readers and some of the Read & Think sheets, and Spectrum workbooks and tons of small "homework booklet" type reading (I Love to Read, Hi-Interest Reading, etc.) that has a one-page story with one page of some sort of comprehension questions/activities.
This is what I do! We never even tried a reading program. If a child has problems comprehending something, either they will ask, or not finish the book. The last thing I want to do is turn reading into a chore. My kids read because they want to. Sure, I do plenty of research and make sure there are good books hanging around, but it's rare that I say "You must read this." One exception is book clubs that I run. They have to read those. But mostly they enjoy the book selections and they enjoy the book club meetings that they will read the book for the sake of the club.
We use Sonlight here. Dd has loved the variety of books that are in their program. We do not always use their comprehension questions but I do occassionally. Besides the daily guided reading dd also has to read 1/2 hr a day with a book of her choosing. We do the Pizza Hut bookit program and that gives her lots of motivation.
We do a combination of several things. I read aloud and ask for narration from all my kiddos. Dd7 reads to me from pathway readers or from a book she picked. She's excited to start reading in the Mcguffey readers. Dd10 reads silently what she wishes. She usually picks things like boxcar children and little house on the prairie books then voluntarily gives me a narration on what she read. The boys don't like to read and I have yet to come up with a way to get them to do so. But they do get exposure to good liturature from our read alouds.. Next year I'm going to start the girls on written narration.
I just use real books. I started out using Sonlight's readers, but now choose my children's reading books. I typically choose classic literature that I think they will enjoy. For my ds that no longer reads aloud to me I have him do a book report or oral report on the book he read. He wants worksheets next year though.
You could always choose a selection of Progeny Press guides (or Novel Units). I used them for sd when she was in high school.
Here are some ideas to get you started. It is part of my dd's 4th grade booklist: American Girl series Just Grace From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler The Dragon Princess Beverly Cleary books (Henry Huggins, Beezus, Ramona, etc) Wizard of Oz series (there are tons) Tumtum and Nutmeg The Disappearing Bike Shop Holes The Tiger Rising Charlie and the Chocolate Factory The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate Hoot Clementine Ella Enchanted Because of Winn-Dixie The City of Ember Harriet the Spy The Birthday Room Island of the Blue Dolphins The Sign of the Beaver The Doll People
We use a literature based curriculum, WinterPromise, for history and language arts (also Learning Language Arts through Literature. My son always has at least one book he is reading outside of school work. He also enjoys reading the dictonary, encyclopedias and thesaurus for fun, and has since he was a very young child (he was reading early chapter books by three years old).
