Think about how you are reading this article right now. Are you spending time slowly decoding each individual word? Or are you able to smoothly read each word consecutively in your head? This smooth flow is called “fluency”. Fluency can be difficult to assess in pre-readers because they are not yet ready for recognizing a large vocabulary of words and are probably not ready for decoding skills. However, there are activities you can do with your child that will help him be ready for reading independently when the time comes.
Echo Reading is exactly what it sounds like. A skilled reader reads a sentence or phrase aloud, and the child repeats what was read. The child learns to mimic your fluency and expression that will one day guide him in his own reading.
You can do this with your child every now and again when you read a book together. Talk it up and make it a game. Begin with a short book, and simply instruct your child to repeat what you read. Congratulate him on his wonderful reading skills, and continue the activity as long as he shows interest. Point out when he is able to repeat exactly what you read and when he uses great expression in his voice. Don’t worry about mistakes as the point of the activity is to learn to read with fluency and expression.
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Written by Laura on October 1, 2010
Young children can often be very dramatic. And, although we may not like the negative renditions of this behavior, such as ear-splitting tantrums on the kitchen floor, children can learn a lot about language through the use of drama.
Don’t worry. I am not about to propose you need to seek out your local theater in order to have your child take part in auditions. Instead, you can create yo
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Written by Laura on August 30, 2010
Last evening, my husband and I were treated to dinner by two gentlemen from England who my husband knows from work. Given their heritage, it is immediately clear that they speak quite differently than any native to America. It also doesn’t take very long to realize that a person could easily pick up words or accents after being around them for awhile. These new habits may make you stand o
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Written by Laura on July 19, 2010
Have you ever tried to make your child laugh while he was in the middle of a pouting fit? It is kind of funny to watch them do their best not to crack a smile so as to prove that the pouting is indeed significant. They are keenly aware that their expressions give us clues as to what emotion they are choosing to display. However, they may not be able to identify those same emotions by name as th
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Written by Laura on June 11, 2010
Have you ever had one of those days where your mood seems to swing all over the place? One moment you are happy as a lark, and a few minutes later you angrier than you’ve ever been before. Sometimes, we adults forget that we are not the only ones who may experience this wild pendulum ride from time to time. And, even when our moods are not swinging wildly, they will likely fluctuate to so
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Written by BRWI Staff on April 15, 2010
Echo reading is a strategy used in elementary classrooms that helps students develop fluency in their reading. In echo reading, students are paired together and then take turns reading the same passage, usually one or two sentences at a time. Although your preschooler probably is not able to actually read the words, this same strategy, with a bit of altering, can be utilized to teach the same fl
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Written by BRWI Staff on March 17, 2010
Kids love to pretend they are someone or something other than who they are. This natural craving to role play lends itself wonderfully to opportunities for children to practice using expression in their speech. You can help encourage these role-playing sessions by providing props which can be used to dive deeper into the imagination.
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Written by Laura on January 11, 2010
Some children have a gift for gab. Some children are as quiet as church mice. No matter which of these descriptions best describes your child, it is important to give her practice in using expression when speaking so that she will learn to use this expression when she begins to read.
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Written by BRWI Staff on October 26, 2009
Nobody likes to listen to a story that is being told in a monotone voice. It is much easier and more exciting to listen to a story being told where the narrator is lively and animated. However, this skill does not come naturally to everyone. One way you can practice using expression in storytelling with your preschooler is by reciting silly rhymes and songs.
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Written by BRWI Staff on September 16, 2009
Have you ever sat and listened to someone who is reading in a monotone voice? It can be extremely boring, and it is difficult to pay attention to what is being read. Children react the same way when we adults read in a slow, monotone, or otherwise boring manner. When you read to a child, you want to grab their attention. If you read with excitement, they will respond with excitement.
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Written by BRWI Staff on August 12, 2009
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