McKee Cronier
Auburn University
Rationale:
To have a student who can read fluently means that they able to read quickly, and recognize words at an even pace using expression. It is an important skill for students to learn because students who can read fluently become more efficient readers and can start to read for understanding at a faster pace. In order for students to become fluent readers, they must read and re-read decodable books, practice decoding and decoding at a quick speed because they are no longer relying on decoding, but are now using sight words to read. The goal of this lesson is to improve the student’s influence and independence through repeated and timed reading.
Materials:
Stop watch for each pair of students
Whiteboard and marker
The snake was slithering on the ground (on the whiteboard for the teacher to model)
Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type for each student
Paper and pencils for each pair of students to record reading times
Peer fluency sheet (one for each student)
Procedure:
1) Say: Today we are going to become fluent readers! In order to become a fluent reader, you must be able to read quickly and smoothly. It is important that we learn to read quickly and easily so we can focus on understanding what we read instead how to decode the words!
2) Say: Now, let’s read the sentence I’ve written on the board. Write “the cows that can type” on the white board. Say: I am going to read this sentence aloud. I want you to listen to how the sounds blend together smoothly. Ttttttthhheeee cccccoooooowwwwssssss tttttthhhhhaaaaattttt ccccccccaaaaaaaannnnnnn tttttttyyyyyyyppppppeeeeee. I will then read the sentence faster than the time before and then repeat. The last time, I will blend the words together and read the words at the same pace and smooth the words together in the sentence. Say: This is how we read fluently. Do you see why it is important for us to read this way? When we read like this, it is much easier to understand. We improve our reading skills by reading and rereading to make it become more fluent in our readings.
3) It is your turn to practice reading fluently now! Everyone spread out around the room. I will bring you a book so you can practice reading quickly and smoothly. Please read it a few times. Practicing reading books multiple times is a great way to improve your reading fluency. The book you will be reading is Chick Clack Moo: Cows that can Type. In the story, Farmer Brown's cows find a typewriter in the barn and they start making demands. They even go on strike when Farmer Brown refuses to meet their demands. What do you think happens once the cows go on strike? We’ll have to read to find out! Remember to put the words together smoothly in the sentences each time as you reread the book!
4) Once you’ve practiced reading your book a couple of times, come back to the group and pair up with a partner. Now, you and your partner will read the book together. Each of you are going to read the book aloud to your partner 3 times. With the stopwatch I give you, you will time your partner for one minute while listening to him or her read. After one minute, count how many words your partner has read during that minute. Each of you will be given a checklist with a space to write how many words your partner read in one minute the first, second and third time. After one partner has read 3 times, switch and do the same thing!
5) During the peer assessment, I will walk around the room and monitor the students as they are working together and make sure that all students are following directions and assessing each other properly.
6) After reading to one another, I will call each student up to my desk and explain to him or her what how many words they read per minute means and how it relates to fluency.
Assessment:
I will assess their speed-reading by keeping their times documented and watching their improvement on the charts.
Resources:
Sarah Price, Queen of Fluency - http://sarahpricelessondesigns.weebly.com/independence--fluency.html
Meri Hamilton, Fishing for Fluency - http://mdh0029.wixsite.com/readinglessons/blank
http://www.auburn.edu/academic/education/reading_genie/cultivations.html
