Fluency Videos

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.

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.

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.”

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

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.

Record the reading. After your child has practiced a passage, have him/her record it with a tape player 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!

When reading a story, use appropriate expression during the speaking parts (dialogue). Encourage your child to copy 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.

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.

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

Say a sentence to your child and ask him/ her to repeat it. 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.

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

Echo Reading. Read aloud a line of text. Ask the child to read the same line. Continue taking turns reading and rereading the same lines.

Paired Reading. Explain to the child that sometimes you will read aloud together) duet reading)and sometimes he or she will read alone)solo reading. Agree on two signals the child can use to switch back and forth from solo to duet reading. When the child gives you the duet signal, you will begin reading together. When the child feels ready for solo reading, she will give the solo signal and you will stop reading.

Partner Reading. Partner reading can be used with any book, taking turns reading by sentence, paragraph, page or chapter.

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