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Preparing activities that promote reading fluency is an important part of children learning to love reading. As part of your planning, consider implementing the concept of E-A-R-S.
Teach your kids EARS:
Expression - Moving the tone of their voice up and down
Accuracy - Pronouncing the words correctly and reading the words in the text
Rate of Speed - Keeping the pace appropriate, not too slow or not too fast
Smooth - Reading with a smooth, steady voice
Explain the value and importance of expression in their voice when they read out loud, being accurate in their reading, having an appropriate rate that is not too slow or too fast, and keeping the pace smooth. These key elements will help them to be more fluent in their reading and enjoy reading that much more.
When kids are young, they need a short story that is only one or two paragraphs. Older students can read longer stories. Regardless of age, have the kids take turns reading the story to each other. The entire class participates in small groups. One partner reads for one minute while their partner listens. At the end of the minute, they see how far they went on the page, and their partner gives them feedback about their E-A-R-S. The same student then reads again, with the goal of improving their reading and rate. The second time the reader will try to go further in the story within one minute. After feedback the second time, the roles are reversed, and the listener becomes the reader. The exercise is repeated to allow each student two chances to read.
Mumble reading is reading verbally but very quietly as if the student is mumbling. The student should pronounce each word, but the words are spoken softly. There will be a low hum in the room as all of the students do their mumble reading at the same time.
By implementing mumble reading, all students read together, and those who are nervous about reading aloud can feel more secure when others are reading with them. This builds confidence, fluency, and comfort in reading. This also gives the students a chance to master new words and difficult phrases in their reading.
Encourage your students to read something out loud three times to strengthen their reading skills, become more comfortable with the message, and overcome any reading challenges that may come from unfamiliar words and sentence lengths.
Reinforce the concept of E-A-R-S by encouraging the kids to practice their reading. To help the students understand, read a story to them once with no pauses and monotone. Make the story expressionless, inconsistent in speed, and say some of the words wrong, and make it very rough. Take time to review how the story sounded with a lack of E-A-R-S.
Repeat the experiment but the second time read with ridiculous expression. Over-pronounce words, talking really fast. Talk use the concept of E-A-R-S,
Creating activities that promote reading fluency is simple and enjoyable for the kids. By use of the E-A-R-S concept (expression, accuracy, rate of speed, and smooth), reading with partners, and mumble reading, kids can read more confidently and proficiently. Additionally, kids can increase their ability to read to themselves and out loud.
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TExMaT Master Reading Teacher (085): Practice & Study Guide15 chapters | 190 lessons | 13 flashcard sets
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