Ready,
Set, Read!
Growing
Rationale:
To become
fluent readers, children need to learn how to read faster, smoother,
and more
expressively. Reading fluency is
directly related to reading comprehension. Time and practice are
essential for becoming a fluent reader. An excellent way to
practice
fluency is through rereading text. In addition, rereading text
allows
students to read more words per minute.
Materials:
-copy
of 100 School Days by Anne Rockwell
for each student
-stop
watch
-time
sheet for each student:
Time Sheet
Date: _________________
Your Name:_________________ Your
Partner䴜s
Name:_________________
First time:__________
Second time:__________
Third time:__________
Procedures:
1. You all are learning to become fluent readers, and the best
way to do
that is to practice reading. You are
going to read the same text several times to improve your
fluency. We
will time each of your readings to see how well reading speed
improves. As you reread the text,
you will read it more expressively each time! Remember, you might
not
always know every word in the text, fluent readers do not always know
every word
either, but you should always read to the end of the sentence or use a
silent
cover-up method when you are stuck on a word.
2. Write this sentence on the board: On the first day of
school Mrs.
Madoff gave me a penny. Read the sentence slowly to the
students to
model a non-fluent reader. Reread the sentence expressively,
smoothly,
and quickly to model a fluent reader. Ask the students "Did you
like
the first or second reading better? Good! The second time I
read
with fluency by reading expressively, smoothly, and quickly.
3. Give the students a book talk about 100 School Days:
This
book is about a class and everyday a different student brought a penny
to
school. They would put the penny in a
jar on the teacher䴜s desk, but they did not know why she
was telling
them to do
so. Let䴜s read this book to
find out
what they did with all of their pennies.
Read 100 School Days to the entire class and
tell them
to follow along so they can become familiar with all of the words.
4. Split the students into pairs. Each pair should have one
copy of
100 School Days and each student should have a copy of the time
sheet. Instruct students to write their name on their time sheet
as well
as the name of your partner. After you are finished, switch time
sheets
with your partner so that you have each other䴜s time
sheets.
5. You and your partner will take turns being the reader and the
recorder. Begin by deciding who will be the reader first.
Good! The reader is to start reading at the beginning of 100
School
Days and read for 1 minute. I will stand at the front
of the
room with the stopwatch. When 1 minute is up, I will say STOP
!
The reader should point to the word he/she stopped on. Then, the
recorder
will count the amount of words the reader read during that 1
minute. The
recorder will then record that amount of words on the time sheet next
to first
time space. Are there any questions? Good. Are you
ready? GO !
6. The readers will read from the same spot again, start at the
beginning. This time, the recorder will fill in the second time
space. Are you ready? GO !
7. STOP ! Did the number in the second time space
get bigger
than the number in the first time space? Good! The readers
will
read from the same spot again, start at the beginning. This time,
the
recorder will fill in the third time space. Are you ready? GO
!
8. STOP ! Did the number in the third time space
get bigger
than the number in the second time space? Terrific! Now it
is time
for you and your partner to switch roles. We will do the exact
thing over
again with the new readers and recorders. Are you
ready? GO !" (Follow the same
steps
to enable the new reader to read the same passage three times while
being timed
and recorded.)
9. Talk to your partner about how well you did on your time
sheet.
Ask your partner if you read expressively, smoothly, and quickly.
Would
anyone like to share his or her good work? Great! I am glad
to hear
that you read faster, more expressively, and more accurately each
time!
You sound like a fluent reader! Remember that comprehension is
our main
goal and the more you read, the more fluent you will become!
10. The students will be assessed by individually coming to the
teacher䴜s
desk for a one-minute read of 100 School Days. Each
student's time
will be recorded and compared to the student's time sheet. The
new time
and time sheet will be kept for future comparisons. The students
can
finish reading100 School Days silently while waiting to be
assessed.
References:
100
School Days by Anne Rockwell
Buzz,
Buzz, Buzz! By Katie Lincoln. Auburn University Summer
2005
Quick
䴋 Follow That Bear by Leslie McGill.