Early Elementary

First through third grade, all in one place. These are the years a child goes from sounding out words to reading a chapter book under the covers, and from counting on fingers to multiplying. Everything on this shelf is picked for that stretch: the workbooks that move at the right pace, the first books a child finishes alone, and the read-alouds that stay ahead of their reading level on purpose.

How to use it: an hour to ninety minutes a day is a full load at these ages, and shorter is usually better than longer. Do math while they are fresh. Read to them every day, past the point where they can read to themselves, because listening comprehension runs years ahead of decoding and that gap is where the vocabulary comes from.

Prefer a single shelf per grade? 1st, 2nd, 3rd. Not sure where your child sits? Five questions.