Read, Read as Fast as You Can

Kathryn Mangum

Growing Independence and Fluency Lesson

Rationale:

Fluent reading is reading in which words are recognized easily and automatically. Readers must develop their ability to read fluently so they can become faster, more expressive, and smoother readers. Fluent reading is very important in a child's reading development and success. This lesson is designed to give children repeated reading so they can practice becoming more fluent readers. It also helps children realize the importance of automatic fluent reading.

Materials:

1. speed reading record for each student

2. Partner check sheet for each student 

3. stop watches for each pair of students

4. pencils for students 

5. whiteboard

6. marker 

7. coverup buddies for each student (popsicle sticks with google eyes on them) 

8. copies of the book for each pair of students; Kite Day at Pine Lake

Speed Reading Record:

       Name:_________________________            Date:___________

                        Time:   

                        - After 1^st read            _______

                        - After 2^nd read           _______

                        - After 3^rd read            _______

Partner Check Sheet:

As I listened to my partner read, he/she:

                                                                                    After 2^nd           After 3rd

                        1. Remembered more words         _______          _______

                        2. Read faster                                    _______          _______

                        3. Read smoother                            _______          _______

                        4. Read with expression                 _______          _______

Procedure:

1. Begin the lesson by telling children that in order to become good readers we must learn to read with fluency and accuracy. Also remind them that they have to remember what they have read in order to understand the story. Say to the children 'Today we are going to practice reading with speed and accuracy. By learning to read with speed and reading the words accurately we are going to learn how to become fluent readers. It is important to learn to read fluently so that we can focus on the story and the meaning of the words we are reading. Reading a story many times helps us become fluent readers. Today we are going to read a story multiple times and each time we should try to read faster.'
2. Review with the students using their coverup buddies. Say to the children, 'Sometimes when we are reading we come across words that we have trouble reading. A way to figure out what that word is to use your coverup buddy.' Write the word block on the board. Model to the children how to use their coverup buddies. Say to the children, "When we come across a tough word we can use our coverup buddies so we can sound it out. I am going to look just at the vowel to start. I know that short o says /o/. Next I am going to look at the letters leading up to the o. I see /b/ and /l/. So I have /b//l//o/, now I am going to look at the letters after the /o/ I have ck which says /k/ so it is /b//l//o//k/. Oh, block. So remember to use your coverup buddy when you come to a touch word.
3. Then model fluent reading for the children. Write the sentence The children love flying kites. Say to the children, 'Now let's listen as I read this sentence. The first time I read it I will read without fluency. The ------ children -------- love --------flying--------kites. Now I am going to reread the sentence it will be a little easier since I have read it before. The ---children---love---flying---kites. Did you hear how I got better reading that sentence. Now I am going to read it again and this time I should be able to read it well because I have read it before. The children love flying kites. Did you hear how much better I got. We are going to practice reading with more fluency today.
4. Give the children copies of the book Kite Day at Pine Lake. Let the children read it first before having them partner up. Tell the children, 'This is a story about children who love to fly kites. Bob does not have a kite so he is sad that he can't fly kites with everyone. Will Bob end up with a kite so he can have fun day too. We'll have to read to find out. After the students finish reading, discuss the events in the book with the class.
5. Now have the students break up into partners. Give each group a stopwatch and each child a partner check sheet and a speed reading record. Tell the children, 'With your partner you will read the book three times. Time each reading and record the time on your speed reading record. After you listen to your partner read the book the second and third time you will mark the check sheet. But we will not mark bad things about our partners. We will only write compliments down.
6. For an assessment they will bring me the speed reading records and the partner check sheet. I will then have the children do one minute reads with me to check their fluency and accuracy.

Resources:

1. Tate, Natalie. "Kites are Slow, Reading is Fast"
   http://www.auburn.edu/academic/education/reading_genie/persp/tategf.html
2. Kite Day at Pine Lake by Sheila Cushman & Rona Kornblum. c1990