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Read to Younger Children or Pets for Fluency Practice

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ELA: Reading All Ages Strategy

Skills

Expressive Language

Read to Younger Children or Pets for Fluency Practice

If your student is struggling with reading fluency and feels self-conscious reading aloud

How To Apply It!

  1. Having a student who has reading difficulties read aloud to a younger child or to a pet allows him to read books at a more comfortable comprehension while developing oral reading fluency.
  2. Have the student read to a younger child on a consistent basis, either a sibling at home or a grade partner program at school. This gives the older child the opportunity to read books at an easier level and with less pressure. The younger child will enjoy the attention. Since younger children often like hearing the same stories repeated, this gives the older child what can be important repeated practice on the same text.
  3. Consider a "Tail Wagging Tutor Program" at the local library or in school, which encourages children to read to pets. Even the most reluctant reader is often delighted to read to a gentle, non-judgmental dog!
  4. Have the student read aloud and record himself. Then he can play it back and follow along again with the book to gain more practice.

Why It Works (the Science Of Learning)!

Reading aloud to a younger child or a pet is great practice for students to develop fluent reading and speaking skills. Hearing their own voice will enable them to better self-correct. While reading to an adult who can provide constructive feedback is optimal to ensure incorrect patterns are not developing, some children might be reluctant to read to an adult because they do not want to be corrected or feel shy. Extensive research shows that repeated oral reading leads to meaningful improvements in reading expertise for students.