Fluency is my current area of literacy interest. I’ve been trying to find all the great podcasts and trying things in the summer reading class I am teaching to 6 and 7 year olds. I am also thinking ahead to my first grade classroom in the fall and what I need to add, in regards to fluency.
I listened to two different podcasts, and both of them recommended adding in performance. This gives students a purpose for all of their practice. Well I listened to the podcast on the drive to teaching summer reading and thought no better time than the present to try this out. We had been reading decodable passages that go with the phonics lessons we’ve been doing. The students have been keeping the passages in a folder. Well, I told the students before we started stations that they could practice one specific passage and perform it for the class at the end if they wanted to.
I can’t even begin to tell you the magic that happened at the read to self/illustrate the decodable station!! So many kids at this station were practicing a passage that they would perform in front of their peers. Out of 12 kids, I had six kids want to perform their passages for their classmates. I know it is summer and math isn’t my strongest area, but that is 50% of the class who wanted to perform!!! 50% and all I did was suggest if anyone wanted to read to the class at the end they could practice. Imagine what would have happened if I had more thought or intention with them performing. Mind boggling, I know.
You had better believe that I am going to be finding ways to incorporate more “performances” into our weekly routine in first grade. I want to give the students a purpose for reading the same passages over and over and a chance to show off all of their amazing skills to their peers and hopefully the other adults in the building and the students’ lives.
Know Better Do Better
Of course I shared this instantly with Heidi after class, who, bless her heart, brought me a book, Know Better Do Better with the fluency section marked ready for me to deepen my knowledge.
I read about how fluency should be a part of every day and that is exactly what I intend to do. I don’t know exactly what that will look like, but I’m going to make it a priority.
I was reminded of how there are three main parts that make up fluency: accuracy, rate, and expressiveness/prosody. I remember reading about these things in college, but didn’t fully grasp how important of a role they play in a child’s reading journey.
Next Year
I can’t wait for a new year to begin so I can add a focus to fluency into my daily routine. I can’t wait to see my student’s confidence bloom and see how much they grow from August to May.
Michelle and Heidi
Hookedonbooksabc
Resources
Know Better, Do Better Teaching the Foundations So Every Child Can Read by David Liben and Meredith Liben - Link for Purchase
Melissa and Lori Love Literacy podcast
Episode 98: Improving Student Reading Growth in Months with Fluency Instruction and
Practice - Link
Melissa and Lori Love Literacy podcast
Episode 62: Effective Fluency Instruction with Tim Rasinski - Link
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