Fluency

The Following links and resources are all identified to help grow your child in "Fluency".

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"Repeat After Me"

In a repetitive text, ask your child to repeat the familiar phrase with you. Ex: For the story, “The House that Jack Built” your child can recite with you “ ...in the house that Jack built.”

"Reread Familiar Poems & Rhymes"

Recite & reread nursery rhymes and poems to build familiar phrases in speech.

"Mimic Me"

Alternate repeating the favorite lines of a poem with your child. He/ she will mimic your phrasing and expression.

"Sing Along"

Encourage child to sing favorite songs and repeat favorite lines of songs.

"Reread, Reread, Reread"

Reread familiar/favorite books.

"Read with Expression"

When you read a story, use appropriate expression during dialogue. Encourage your child to mimic your expression. Talk with him/her about what that expression means. Ex: If the character is excited about going to the park, he/she should sound like that in his/her voice. Encourage your child to repeat key phrases or dialogue.

"Punctuation Hunt"

Point out punctuation marks that aid in expression such as question marks, exclamation points and quotation marks. Demonstrate how your voice changes as you read for each. Only focus on one during a book. Remember it is important to enjoy it first and foremost.

"Build a Book"

Make your own books of favorite songs for child to practice “reading”. This builds confidence and helps your child identify him/herself as a reader.

"Repeat after me"

Say a sentence to your child and ask him/her to repeat it to you. Challenge your child to increase the number of words he/she can repeat. As you say it, put it in meaningful phrases. Ex: The boy went/ to the store /with his mother.

"Record the reading"

After your child has practiced a passage, have him/ her record it with a tape player, cell phone, or MP3 device. Once recorded, your child can listen to his reading and follow along in the book. Often, he/ she will want to record it again and make it even better!

"Repeated reading"

Choose a passage that will not be very difficult for your child. Read the passage aloud to your child, and then read it together, helping your child figure out any tricky words. Next, have your child read the passage to you with a focus on accuracy. Finally, have your child read the passage to you again, paying attention to fluency and expression. The goal is to sound smooth and natural.

"Use different voices"

When reading a familiar story or passage, try having your child use different voices. Read the story in a mouse voice, cowboy voice, or a princess voice. This is another way to do repeated reading, and it adds some fun to reading practice.

"Read to different audiences"

Reading aloud is a way to communicate to an audience. When a reader keeps the audience in mind, he/she knows that his reading must be fluent and expressive. Provide a variety of opportunities for your child to read to an audience. Your child can read to stuffed animals, pets, siblings, neighbors, grandparents - anyone who is willing to listen. This is a good way to show off what was practiced with repeated reading.

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