The Preschooler

Finger Plays and Fluency

It may seem impossible to teach reading fluency to a child who is not yet able to read.  However, reading fluently involves more than simply being able to decode the words.  In order to read fluently, a person must be able to chunk groups of words together and say them in a steady fashion.  A reader must make the words on the page sound natural and flowing.

While reading poetry, there is often a certain rhythm involved.  And, although you may not approach a preschooler with a complex piece of poetry to learn, they are able to memorize simple finger plays.  Finger plays are more enjoyable for preschoolers because they are fun and involve physical motions.  They are often silly or set to music.  All of these features make them perfect learning tools for teaching fluency.

If you need help finding a selection of finger plays, just visit Gayle’s Preschool Rainbow.  She has put together a collection from her experience over the past 30 years that includes finger plays, nursery rhymes, action poems, and songs.  There are selections on a wide variety of topics, and she has them divided into themes.   Simply click on one of the themes in the left-hand column or search the entire site using the link at the bottom of the page.

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Written by BRWI Staff on February 11, 2011