Tag Archives : reading fluency

The benefits of Reading Buddy Programs

This entry was posted in 1st Grade 2nd Grade 3rd Grade CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT FREE LESSONS & PRICED LESSONS - The Best of Teacher Entrepreneurs Kindergarten LANGUAGE ARTS LESSONS MISC. LESSONS PreKindergarten SPECIAL EDUCATION and tagged #backtoschool kindergarten and first grade reading No Prep reading buddies reading fluency on July 27, 2016 by That Fun Reading Teacher

The benefits of a Reading Buddies program by That Fun Reading Teacher

[/Image credit: gelpi / 123RF Stock Photo]

Just typing the term Reading Buddies brings a smile to my face.

When I was teaching kindergarten and first grade, my students always had Reading Buddies (older students from a partner class). The older buddies usually came weekly to read with my students and do a fun activity.

Having a Reading Buddy program in my classroom is one of the things I missed when I was teaching Reading Recovery. When I became a special education teacher (providing literacy support to students up to the third grade), I set up buddy reading between some of my third grade students and snacking Kindergarten students. Half of them were interested when I first suggested bringing their ‘most practiced’ books to kindergarten, weekly, during recess. After the first month, click here to continue reading…

Easter phrasing, fluency and fun (and a freebie for everyone!)

This entry was posted in 1st Grade 2nd Grade 3rd Grade Easter FREE LESSONS FREE LESSONS & PRICED LESSONS - The Best of Teacher Entrepreneurs Kindergarten LANGUAGE ARTS LESSONS MISC. LESSONS PreKindergarten Uncategorized and tagged #music 1st grade 2nd grade 3rd grade English Language Arts free homeschool kindergarten movement reading fluency on March 20, 2016 by That Fun Reading Teacher (updated on March 20, 2016)

It was almost Easter, and I found myself fighting off the urge to nod off while my students were reading some of the most entertaining leveled books schools can buy. My primary readers were in a slump. I heard it their robotic, monotone reading. Things needed shaking up with phrasing and pacing with a number of my early readers. I ran the risk of my head falling to my chest and a potential neck injury.

It was time for another Phrasing and Fluency Blitz!

When I taught Reading Recovery, there were times that a student would plateau at a a level for more than a week. We would be advised to take two or three lessons for a phrasing and fluency blitz – rereading some familiar, easier books to rebuild confidence, model and practice phrasing and pick up the pace! Many of our students’ favorites were readers that rhymed, had a lively rhythm and made us both laugh!

I used the freebie The Bunny Hop Easter Song and Movement Activity in Kindergarten poetry books as a music and movement activity. It works particularly well if modeled and echoed first before showing earliest readers the text:

This freebie also has a black and white version included with it – ideal for poetry folders!

It’s all about the Eggs is an Easter Fun Fluency Reader modeled after I’m All About the Bass (performed by Meghan Trainor, co-written by Meghan Trainor and Kevin Kadish). I’m All About the Bass had been on the radio so much last year that my students knew the tune instantly. I modeled the first read to them, and we practiced a few phrases in isolation before we all enjoyed singing it fluently from beginning to end (over, and over and over again.)

There is a twist on a familiar Fairy Tale in this book that the kids find hilarious (but humor and laughter are topics for other days…).

Limitation of liability: It’s all about the Eggs is not recommended for those who are prone to getting songs stuck in their head or with one last nerve.

Happy Easter everyone!
That Fun Reading Teacher

Related:

Halloween Math and Literacy Fun, freebies and Blog Hop with great prizes!

This entry was posted in 1st Grade 2nd Grade FREE LESSONS FREE LESSONS & PRICED LESSONS - The Best of Teacher Entrepreneurs Halloween LANGUAGE ARTS LESSONS MATH LESSONS MISC. LESSONS and tagged 5 Halloween Friends on the Wall 5 Halloween Friends song 99 Bottles of Beer Canadian teachers Canadian TpTers Counting backwards early learning Giveaway Grade 1 grade 2 Halloween Blog Hop Halloween FREEBIE Halloween Math and Literacy Fun Halloween song kindergarten number stories reading fluency subtraction Tricks & Treats Halloween Blog Hop on October 20, 2015 by That Fun Reading Teacher

Happy almost Halloween everyone! I am so excited to be participating in this Halloween Blog Hop! There are lots of great teacher tips, lessons and freebies along the way, so I hope you’re able to visit each store for inspiration and (who’s kidding who!) the awesome freebies! And check this out:

You’ll see the Rafflecopter machine a little further down. But first, I thought I’d take you down memory lane..

Did you used to sing the classic song 99 Bottles of Beer, with its stick-in-your-brain-forever melody and uncanny ability to teach even the most math-challenged among us to rote count backwards from 100?

I did, and it stuck so much that, years ago, I changed the words and created an activity to go with it. Its adhesive quality remains.

The activity:

Print enough freebies for your entire class, and one for yourself. You’ll also see options for the color version at the bottom of this post.
Plan enough time for each student to take a turn at the board. You’ll see why in a minute!
Have some early finishers color and cut out your freebie, mount on sturdy paper, laminate if you wish, and place magnets on the back for use on a magnetic surface.
Gather the class and draw a wall for your characters to stand on. If you have not read the story with them (optional purchase pictured below), then introduce the activity by discussing their thoughts regarding standing on high walls, predictions about what could happen etc. Throughout the course of the song, one character will be falling at a time.
Now, warm up that singing voice! “Mi, mi, mi…”
Give each child a chance to make a character fall from the wall as you sing this song:

5 Halloween friends on the wall,
5 Halloween friends …

If 1 of these friends has a big fall,
How many friends are left on the wall?

4 Halloween friends on the wall,
4 Halloween friends …

If 1 of these friends has a big fall,
How many friends are left on the wall?

3 Halloween friends on the wall,
3 Halloween friends …

If 1 of these friends has a big fall,
How many friends are left on the wall?

And you simply continue this way until there is one friend left on the wall.

7. Invite your students to discuss what they noticed or found interesting about the song / story. Were there any patterns? Does anyone think that there was math in the story? How could a number sentence be written about what just happened?

8. Have fun!

Now back to the fun for the grown-ups! Here’s the secret word for the Rafflecopter machine…