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Growing Independence and Fluency

Rationale:
The goal of reading instruction is to be able to teach children to read with fluency. Fluency means the ability to read words automatically and accurately. Students not only need to read with fluency but also they need to learn to read with expression. The goal of this lesson is to have students read faster, smoother, and with more expression. In order to gain fluency the students will complete one-minute readings.

Materials:

Copies of Jane and Babe for each student

Stopwatch for each pair of students

Chart with sentence (The red cat is at the door.)

Fluency Rubric Chart

One Minute Read Chart:

Name: __________________________ Date: ______________

1^st minute: ________

2^nd minute: ________

3^rd minute: _________

Fluency Rubric Chart

I noticed that my partner....

After 2nd After 3rd Reading

   ____                ____                     Remembered more words
         ____                ____                     Read Faster
   ____                ____                     Read Smoother
   ____              ____                     Read with Expression

Procedures:

1. I will start my lesson by explaining the differences between a beginner reader and a fluent reader. First, I will ask what the class thinks a fluent reader does. I will explain that fluent readers read fast and with expression.

2. I will read the sentence on the chart to model. I will ask the class "how do you think a beginner reader might read this sentence? That’s right. A beginner reader might have some difficulty reading some of the words and therefore take a long time to read the sentence." I will model how a beginner reader might sound "Thththe the rrreed red ccaat cat is at the dddoor door." Next, I will model how a fluent reader would read this sentence with fluency and expression, "The red cat is at the door!" I will then ask "can anyone tell me the difference between these two types of readers?" After waiting for a response, "that’s right, a fluent reader reads without stopping and with expression while a beginner reader takes time to stop and sound out many of the words." I will also ask "which one sounds better to you?" The students will respond and I will say "that’s correct the second one, a fluent reader, sounds better."

3. I will allow the students to practice reading the sentence: The red cat is at the door. I will walk around and listen until they are able to read it fluently.

4. After the students are able to read the sentence fluently, we will start reading the book. I will model how to read the book first and timed reading. "First, I am going to show you how to read fluently. This book is called Jane and Babe. Jane is a zookeeper at the zoo and Babe is the lion that lives there. In this story, Jane is trying to wake Babe so they can play, but Babe is fast asleep. Let's read this book to find out if Jane is able to wake Babe." After I finish reading Jane and babe we will talk about reading fluently. "Did everyone see how I read the book smoothly and my voice changed?"

5. Next, I will have the students split up into pairs and take turns reading the story Jane and Babe. I want you to use the silent timer to time your partner as he/she reads the story. After one minute, stop your partner and write on one minute read chart how many words your partner read during that minute. Repeat this process three times with your reading partner to see if you can improve your reading fluency rate.

6. To assess the students, I will call each student individually and review their fluency checklist they have completed. I will then have each child read Jane and Babe once more to monitor fluency. After, I will discuss with the class the story we read to make sure everyone comprehended the text.

References:

Long, Lauren. Becoming a Reading Wiz! http://www.auburn.edu/academic/education/reading_genie/voyages/longgf.html

Murray, B. Developing Reading Fluency. http://www.auburn.edu/academic/education/reading_genie/fluency.html

(1990). Phonics Reader Long Vowel, Jane and Babe. Carson, CA: Educational Insights.

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