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How do you increase a child’s reading fluency? It’s a question that seems to have an easy answer. One common response is that you give them more opportunities to listen to others as they read. You also make it important for them to read aloud and then provide them feedback on their reading.
How do you increase a child’s reading fluency? It’s a question that seems to have an easy answer. One common response is that you give them more opportunities to listen to others as they read. You also make it important for them to read aloud and then provide them feedback on their reading.
In this session, I'll share research and a few other approaches you can take that blend technology into reading fluency.
In this session, I'll share research and a few other approaches you can take that blend technology into reading fluency.
Today's Topics
Today's Topics
- Reflect and Share
- Defining "Reading Fluency"
- Measuring Reading Fluency
- Five Ways to Improve Reading Fluency
- Exit Ticket
Did You Know?
Did You Know?
Phonics instruction enjoys an effect size of 0.60. The VisibleLearning MetaX database defines it in the following way:
Phonics instruction enjoys an effect size of 0.60. The VisibleLearning MetaX database defines it in the following way:
“A form of instruction that stresses the acquisition of letter-sound correspondences. The focus is on reading and spelling. It involves teaching children the sounds made by individual letters or letter groups. Children learn how to merge separate sounds together to make it one word. For example, blending the sounds k, a, t makes CAT.”
“A form of instruction that stresses the acquisition of letter-sound correspondences. The focus is on reading and spelling. It involves teaching children the sounds made by individual letters or letter groups. Children learn how to merge separate sounds together to make it one word. For example, blending the sounds k, a, t makes CAT.”
Here is a list of eight actions that good readers take during reading. How many items can you check off?
Here is a list of eight actions that good readers take during reading. How many items can you check off?
Chatter Fall Activity
Chatter Fall Activity
"No one knows it all; no one is ignorant of everything. We all know something; we are all ignorant of something," said Paulo Freire.
"No one knows it all; no one is ignorant of everything. We all know something; we are all ignorant of something," said Paulo Freire.
"No one knows everything. But together, we know a whole lot," says Simon Sinek.
"No one knows everything. But together, we know a whole lot," says Simon Sinek.
Reflect and Share
Reflect and Share
In your library now, how do you encourage...
In your library now, how do you encourage...
- reading fluency and
- reading comprehension?
Please formulate your thoughts, then wait to share in the chat until prompted.
Please formulate your thoughts, then wait to share in the chat until prompted.
Defining Terms: Reading Fluency vs Decoding
Defining Terms: Reading Fluency vs Decoding
Definition: Decoding: Decoding is the ability to apply your knowledge of letter-sound relationships, including knowledge of letter patterns, to correctly pronounce written words.
Definition: Decoding: Decoding is the ability to apply your knowledge of letter-sound relationships, including knowledge of letter patterns, to correctly pronounce written words.
Understanding these relationships gives children the ability to recognize familiar words quickly and to figure out words they haven’t seen before. (Source: Reading Rockets)
Understanding these relationships gives children the ability to recognize familiar words quickly and to figure out words they haven’t seen before. (Source: Reading Rockets)
Definition: Fluency is defined as the ability to read with speed, accuracy, and proper expression. In order to understand what they read, children must be able to read fluently whether they are reading aloud or silently.
Definition: Fluency is defined as the ability to read with speed, accuracy, and proper expression. In order to understand what they read, children must be able to read fluently whether they are reading aloud or silently.
When reading aloud, fluent readers read in phrases and add intonation appropriately. (Source: Reading Rockets)
When reading aloud, fluent readers read in phrases and add intonation appropriately. (Source: Reading Rockets)
When a reader is fluent, they
When a reader is fluent, they
- read at a nice pace,
- accurately recognize words without noticeable effort,
- bring texts to life by making reading sound similar to natural spoken language.
Measuring Reading Fluency
Measuring Reading Fluency
According to the International Literacy Association (and most definitions), reading fluency is made up of three measurable parts:
According to the International Literacy Association (and most definitions), reading fluency is made up of three measurable parts:
- accuracy,
- rate, and
- expression (or prosody and phrasing).
When a reader is considered fluent, they read at a nice pace, they accurately recognize words without noticeable effort, and they bring texts to life by making reading sound similar to natural spoken language.
When a reader is considered fluent, they read at a nice pace, they accurately recognize words without noticeable effort, and they bring texts to life by making reading sound similar to natural spoken language.
Measuring: Accuracy
Measuring: Accuracy
To measure accuracy, you can take the number of words a student reads correctly and divide it by the number of words read in total. For example, if a student reads a total of 100 words, and out of the 100, they read 90 words correctly, the student read the passage with 90% accuracy.
To measure accuracy, you can take the number of words a student reads correctly and divide it by the number of words read in total. For example, if a student reads a total of 100 words, and out of the 100, they read 90 words correctly, the student read the passage with 90% accuracy.
Measuring: Rate
Measuring: Rate
To calculate the rate at which a student reads, or the Words Correct Per Minute (WCPM), you will need to time them reading for one minute. Subtract the number of errors from the total number of words read, and you will have the WCPM. Let’s say a student read 95 words in one minute, and 80 words were read correctly.
To calculate the rate at which a student reads, or the Words Correct Per Minute (WCPM), you will need to time them reading for one minute. Subtract the number of errors from the total number of words read, and you will have the WCPM. Let’s say a student read 95 words in one minute, and 80 words were read correctly.
The student made 15 errors. You would take the 95 total words and subtract the 15 errors, so the student would read at a rate of 80 WCPM.
The student made 15 errors. You would take the 95 total words and subtract the 15 errors, so the student would read at a rate of 80 WCPM.
Measuring: Prosody and Expression
Measuring: Prosody and Expression
Use this rubric to assess prosody, expression, phrasing, and pace. This rubric is from Dr. Tim Rasinksi of Kent State University. As you might guess, measuring prosody and expression can be more of a qualitative rather than quantitative effort.
Use this rubric to assess prosody, expression, phrasing, and pace. This rubric is from Dr. Tim Rasinksi of Kent State University. As you might guess, measuring prosody and expression can be more of a qualitative rather than quantitative effort.
Once you have this data, you may want to review some research and see the Hasbrouck and Tindal Oral Reading Fluency chart.
Once you have this data, you may want to review some research and see the Hasbrouck and Tindal Oral Reading Fluency chart.
5 Ways to Improve Reading Fluency
5 Ways to Improve Reading Fluency
How do you increase a child’s reading fluency? It’s a question that seems to have an easy answer, albeit in two parts:
How do you increase a child’s reading fluency? It’s a question that seems to have an easy answer, albeit in two parts:
- Give them more opportunities to listen to others as they read.
- Have students read aloud and then provide them feedback on their reading.
In this next section, we'll discuss four ways and share some digital tools.
In this next section, we'll discuss four ways and share some digital tools.
1- Modeling
1- Modeling
Take time to read to students and then place read aloud books in the classroom for students to access for re-reading. Having heard the story already, fluency can be built by revisiting the book or text to read it on their own. Not only that, but partner reading familiar texts can build motivation and fluency through modeling as well.
Take time to read to students and then place read aloud books in the classroom for students to access for re-reading. Having heard the story already, fluency can be built by revisiting the book or text to read it on their own. Not only that, but partner reading familiar texts can build motivation and fluency through modeling as well.
Wish you had an app for Read Alouds? Check out Google's new, under development for Android app.
Wish you had an app for Read Alouds? Check out Google's new, under development for Android app.
Google's Read Aloud for Android
Google's Read Aloud for Android
Read Along is a free reading app for Android that helps children have fun while they learn to read. Read Along has an in-app reading buddy that listens to your young learner read aloud, offers assistance when they struggle and rewards them with stars when they do well – guiding them along as they progress. It works best for children who already have some basic knowledge of the alphabet.
Read Along is a free reading app for Android that helps children have fun while they learn to read. Read Along has an in-app reading buddy that listens to your young learner read aloud, offers assistance when they struggle and rewards them with stars when they do well – guiding them along as they progress. It works best for children who already have some basic knowledge of the alphabet.
2- Fluency Centers
2- Fluency Centers
Fluency centers are a great way for students to practice and build fluency on their own or with a partner. Florida Center for Reading Research has some resources for fluency centers. Just choose your grade level in the menu, and you’ll find a variety of resources to boost reading progress.
Fluency centers are a great way for students to practice and build fluency on their own or with a partner. Florida Center for Reading Research has some resources for fluency centers. Just choose your grade level in the menu, and you’ll find a variety of resources to boost reading progress.
Some other great resources:
Some other great resources:
- Use these free PDFs to copy/paste Fry fluency phrases to create your own fluency phrase cards with this tool.
You can also offer choice boards (like those shown right) so students can choose how they’d like to practice at the center.
You can also offer choice boards (like those shown right) so students can choose how they’d like to practice at the center.
3- Repeated Readings
3- Repeated Readings
Repeated reading is an academic practice that aims to increase oral reading fluency. … During repeated reading, a student sits in a quiet location with the teacher. The student then reads a passage (50 to 200 words) aloud at least three times. The teacher determines reading fluency by calculating words correct per minute that the student has read (source: What Works Clearinghouse).
Repeated reading is an academic practice that aims to increase oral reading fluency. … During repeated reading, a student sits in a quiet location with the teacher. The student then reads a passage (50 to 200 words) aloud at least three times. The teacher determines reading fluency by calculating words correct per minute that the student has read (source: What Works Clearinghouse).
Repeated reading is when a student reads a text multiple times until they no longer have errors. Repeated Reading Programs (d=0.75) is a surface learning strategy (use it when introducing new skills and ideas or information). It occurs when the student can read words in an accurate and quick manner.
Repeated reading is when a student reads a text multiple times until they no longer have errors. Repeated Reading Programs (d=0.75) is a surface learning strategy (use it when introducing new skills and ideas or information). It occurs when the student can read words in an accurate and quick manner.
Students feel better and better as they see their fluency is improving each time they read the text. Here are some resources:
Students feel better and better as they see their fluency is improving each time they read the text. Here are some resources:
- free repeated reading task cards to make repeated reading fun (and a little silly!). Key components to repeated readings are error correction, peer-to-peer feedback, and goal setting. Students can practice repeated readings independently or with a partner.
- This article by ThoughtCo has some great suggestions for choosing texts for repeated readings and how to use audio recording and timing in independent repeated reading. Additionally, the article presents choral reading, echo reading, and dyad reading as good partner reading activities.
Introducing Reading Vine
Introducing Reading Vine
Reading Vine offers free resources to help improve reading and comprehension skills that include fiction, nonfiction, poetry, essays, and stories.
Reading Vine offers free resources to help improve reading and comprehension skills that include fiction, nonfiction, poetry, essays, and stories.
What’s more, questions and answers, worksheets, and activities are also available. Each text comes with an easy to create PDF and reading comprehension questions. An answer key is also included.
What’s more, questions and answers, worksheets, and activities are also available. Each text comes with an easy to create PDF and reading comprehension questions. An answer key is also included.
A wide variety of educators and parents use Reading Vine to provide personalized reading experiences.
A wide variety of educators and parents use Reading Vine to provide personalized reading experiences.
To get started with Reading Vine, you can set up an account with either Google or Office 365. Or you can use an email address and come up with a password. Once you have your account or profile set up, you can explore a variety of reading sets.
To get started with Reading Vine, you can set up an account with either Google or Office 365. Or you can use an email address and come up with a password. Once you have your account or profile set up, you can explore a variety of reading sets.
Once your account setup and reading sets are ready to go, you can create a PDF with favorite passages. These PDFs come with activities as well. This makes them easy to share with students via your learning management system.
Once your account setup and reading sets are ready to go, you can create a PDF with favorite passages. These PDFs come with activities as well. This makes them easy to share with students via your learning management system.
4- Visual References
4- Visual References
Having visuals for students to reference is fantastic. To the right, please find some fluency posters that you can give to students or hang in your classroom to help them remember what fluent readers do.
Having visuals for students to reference is fantastic. To the right, please find some fluency posters that you can give to students or hang in your classroom to help them remember what fluent readers do.
How could you make your own posters featuring celebrities? Campus celebrities? Parents?
How could you make your own posters featuring celebrities? Campus celebrities? Parents?
5- Echo and Choral Reading
5- Echo and Choral Reading
Estelle Lara’s research reveals that fluency gains can be achieved over a six-week period. Teachers and students must engage in echo, choral, and/or partner reading with quality stories. Let’s revisit the definitions of each approach:
Estelle Lara’s research reveals that fluency gains can be achieved over a six-week period. Teachers and students must engage in echo, choral, and/or partner reading with quality stories. Let’s revisit the definitions of each approach:
- Echo reading: The teacher reads a sentence aloud, then the group rereads it aloud.
- Choral reading: The teacher leads the entire group reading aloud in unison.
- Partner reading: Pairs of readers take turns as they read text aloud.
Students without ready access to a teacher may find it hard to engage in echo reading. However, they can rely on available digital texts. One way to accomplish this includes using age-appropriate, high-interest texts that have been read aloud online.
Students without ready access to a teacher may find it hard to engage in echo reading. However, they can rely on available digital texts. One way to accomplish this includes using age-appropriate, high-interest texts that have been read aloud online.
You can ask students to use a screencasting tool to record themselves reading a text on screen after it has been read aloud.
You can ask students to use a screencasting tool to record themselves reading a text on screen after it has been read aloud.
Digital Tools for Amazing Read Alouds
Digital Tools for Amazing Read Alouds
Students build reading fluency most efficiently when they engage in more than silent reading. Here are a few suggestions for technology tools that can enhance reading fluency.
Students build reading fluency most efficiently when they engage in more than silent reading. Here are a few suggestions for technology tools that can enhance reading fluency.
“Reading aloud is one of the most important things parents and teachers can do with children. Reading aloud builds many important foundational skills, such as:
“Reading aloud is one of the most important things parents and teachers can do with children. Reading aloud builds many important foundational skills, such as:
- Introducing vocabulary,
- Providing a model of fluent, expressive reading, and
- Assists children in recognizing recognize what reading for pleasure is all about” (source)
Flip.com
Flip.com
In this example, students read a paired text, focusing on vocabulary, then do a close reading and respond via Flipgrid. Learn more about the project online.
Using Flipgrid, students can record themselves reading a text. This can increase reading fluency and stamina.
Consider adapting QR code read aloud cards (available here) for use with your students. Your QR codes can point to stories read aloud via Storyline Online and/or StoryNory.
You might also want to explore celebrity read-alouds via LitWorld.
"The more automatically a student reads, the more they are able to understand and interpret texts, and the more motivated they are to read. Imagine being a student that lacks fluency. Their brainpower is completely focused on decoding and deciphering the words to get through the text.
"The more automatically a student reads, the more they are able to understand and interpret texts, and the more motivated they are to read. Imagine being a student that lacks fluency. Their brainpower is completely focused on decoding and deciphering the words to get through the text.
This hinders them from devoting brainpower to interpreting meaning to understand what they read. Fluency is key to reading comprehension and reading enjoyment! And developing fluency skills, along with vocabulary acquisition, in the lower grades is vital to supporting reading comprehension moving forward" (source).
This hinders them from devoting brainpower to interpreting meaning to understand what they read. Fluency is key to reading comprehension and reading enjoyment! And developing fluency skills, along with vocabulary acquisition, in the lower grades is vital to supporting reading comprehension moving forward" (source).
Exit Ticket
Exit Ticket
Directions:
Directions:
- Find an empty or almost empty jamboard
- Add Two Things That you learned, and Two Things You want to Learn More About
- Think-Pair-Square: After you have added your's, split up into groups of four and share what you learned.
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