Lesson 2: Guided Reading Strategies for Fluency and Accuracy
Objective
Participants will learn about several strategies to implement strategies to increase fluency and accuracy in their students' reading.
The importance of Fluency and Accuracy in Reading
When it comes to fluency and accuracy, it is always important to make sure that students are reading on their instructional reading level. Fluency is being able to read at a constant speed that isn't too fast or too slow. Being a fluent reading also means not stopping in between words or sentences. Reading with accuracy is when students are able to read a text without making any mistakes.
Strategies
Repeated Reading while Listening- This is when the student student is reading along and listening to a text while someone else, such as the teacher, is reading the text in a fluent rendition. This gives the students the ability to recognize words and reinforces them to improve their reading performance. It is important to give students the chance to read and reread the text as well as listen to it when needed so they could eventually do it on their own (Rasinski,T).
Fluency Development Lesson- This is a strategy where the teacher reads aloud a short passage multiple times in different ways whether its changing the way its read or your voice. Then, the teacher will read the text disfluently to show the difference to the students. The teacher and students will then discuss the meaning of the tex and challenging words in the text. The teacher will develop lessons and activities around those words so the students will be able tp practice those difficult words. After the students have had enough practice, the teacher and the students will reread the text again to observe for improvement in fluent reading (Rasinski, T)
Previewing- This is giving the students the chance to have pre-exposure to the text material prior to reading it. The student can scan the pages and do a picture walk to see if the could figure out what they text or story may be about using clues they find when previewing the book. Students can also preview the text by listening to a peer or an adult read it to them to see if they understand the text. This will give students an idea what the story may be about and will help with reading and ensuring what they are reading makes sense.
Buddy Read- Have students practice reading texts at their instructional level with a classmate which can also promote fluency. When students hear their peers read, they will begin to recognize words and reinforce strategies they may have learned in whole class lessons. Some peers may pick up on strategies that they can teach their peers by modeling.
These are reading strategies chart my school uses to help promote fluency. The video on the Mini course home page also talks about this chart.
Not only do these strategies promote fluency and accuracy but it also teacher students how to decode difficult words as well. Students can practice the challenging words by finding snap words, which are words they can read in a snap or easily. They can look at the pictures for clues, and stretch out the words by tapping out the sounds.
They can read the sentence two ways to see f the words make sense in the text, if not they try again a different way. The chart above also gives strategies to help with decoding words in a text. Teachers can be supportive and help students learn these strategies and use them correctly when in guided reading groups.
When practiced in guided reading groups, you then give the students the tools they need to read independently.
Activity
Pick a strategy listed above or another one you may use in the classroom and give a step by step on how you use it. List the strategy and then explain how it can be used to promote fluency and accuracy in guided reading groups. Also, reflect on experience on how it improved students reading performance. If you have not used any strategies, please choose one from above and use it to see if you notice a difference in students' fluency and if you find it to be effective.
Type singled- spaced and email it to me when completed.
Portfolio Page: Melissa Nelson
Course Home Page: Exploring Guided Reading in the Primary Grades
Next Lesson: Lesson 3: Finding Strategies to enhance Reading Comprehension
Previous Lesson: Lesson 1: What is Guided Reading?
References and Resources
Mastropieri, M. A., Leinart, A., & Scruggs, T. E. (1999). Strategies to increase reading fluency. Intervention in school and clinic, 34(5), 278-283.http://www.sevenhillscharter.org/docs/teachers/voyager/fluencyarticles/FLUStrategiesIncreaseFluency.pdf
Rasinski, T. V. (n.d.). The Fluent Reader (2nd ed.). Retrieved from https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/fluency-strategies-action/
Teacher Pay Teachers Reading Strategy Chart. 