Rationale:
Reading fluently is the key to successful reading for children. It
shows that they are recognizing words while they are reading while
having a better understanding of what they are reading. A great way for
children to learn how to read fluently is through repeated readings.
Materials:
A copy of A Cat Nap for every 2 students
2 Fluency Fun worksheets for each student
Stop watch
pencil
Cat Bed Fluency Chart- assessment
Procedure:
1. Today we are going to work on reading fluently. Who knows what it
means to read fluently? It means that you can read sentences without
having to stop to sound out words. Instead, you will recognize the
words right away so that you can then read with expression. We are
going to learn how to read fluently through repeated readings.
2. Repeated readings are when we read a story more than one time. Each
time you read it, you will become better at reading the story. You will
become more fluent. For example, the first time you read the sentence,
it may sound like this: "T-a-a-b i-i-s a-a f-f-f-a-a-t-t c-c-a-t." If
you do not know a word, use your cover up critter in order to piece
together the word. The second time, you will know what words are coming
up so that you do not have to stop and sound out the words, you will
recognize it right away and keep reading. When this happens, you are
reading more fluent than you did the first time.
3. Today we are going to practice reading fluently by reading A Cat
Nap. Tab is a cat that loves to nap in unusual places. What do you
think will happen when he falls asleep in his owners baseball bag?
4. Now we are going to break up in pairs and work around the room. One
partner will read the story while the other listens. That partner will
read the story three times. The listener will listen while the story is
being read and then fill out the Fluency Fun worksheet after the second
and third read. Then you switch. A fluency fun worksheet is a page that
allows the other person to evaluate your reading. There is a chart
where your partner will check your progress in speed, expression, the
number of words read, and smoothness in your reading.
Assessment:
Each student will come up to the teachers desk and read. The first time
the student reads, the teacher will time how many words the student
read in one minute. The teacher will show the student how many words
they read by moving the Cat to the cat bed on the chart at her desk.
The teacher will mark the number of words in her records so that the
next time she does this, she can show the student the progress he or
she made. On the second read through, the teacher will fill out the
same Fluency Fun worksheet the students did and keep the results to
compare with the next time the student reads for the teacher.
References:
Baker, Ashley
http://www.auburn.edu/academic/education/reading_genie/sightings/bakergf.html
Smith, Heather
http://www.auburn.edu/academic/education/reading_genie/sightings/smithgf.html
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Fluency Fun worksheet example:
Student name: _______________
After 2nd read After 3rd read
________ ________ Read more
words
________ ________ Read
faster
________ ________ Read
smoother
________ ________ Read
with expression
