Reading fluency strategies with Flocabulary
Teaching students fluency strategies is essential to help them become confident readers. In school, I remember sitting in class and being terrified my teacher would call on me next. Although I could read, I struggled to voice the words “smoothly and steadily.” No matter how far I sunk into my seat, imagining myself miles away, she always seemed to find me. “Amanda, it is your turn to read the next paragraph. Remember to read smooth and steady.” Before I even began to read, I felt the heat cover my face.
The power of Flocabulary’s lyrics
Thanks to Flocabulary, my students do not sink into their seats out of fear of being “called on” next. They are now excited to practice fluency through chorally reading our Flocabulary lyrics. Flocabulary offers teachers engaging methods to help students develop essential reading fluency strategies, transforming them into fluent readers.
Through choral reading, students practice oral reading to enhance their fluency skills and overall reading fluency. Choral reading is when everyone reads aloud together with appropriate rate and expression. At the beginning of each vocabulary unit, before ever watching the video, we dive into our lyrics. We spend a lot of time reading the lyrics, discussing new words, and chorally reading the lyrics as a class.
When students read a text with confidence, they benefit from fluency instructional practices that make reading instruction more effective. Flocabulary is the perfect platform to use when developing fluency strategies for your students! As a class, we read Flocabulary lyrics aloud to improve their vocabulary and reading confidence. Keep reading to explore fluency enhancing strategies I used in my classroom.
New to Flocabulary? Teachers can sign up for a trial to access our lesson videos and assessment activities. Administrators can get in touch with us to learn more about unlocking the full power of Flocabulary through Flocabulary Plus.
Fluency Strategies with Flocabulary: Choral Reading Lyrics
Day one:
When kicking off fluency shaping strategies, begin with a new vocabulary unit. Students receive a printed copy of the Flocabulary lyrics. They keep the lyrics in a sheet protector in their daily take-home binder. They read the lyrics silently and highlight any unknown words.
Day two:
Read the lyrics aloud while modeling appropriate rate and dramatizing expression to model expressive reading while also keeping the learning fun. Remember to stop to discuss each vocabulary word. During this lesson, project the Vocab Cards from the Flocabulary website.
Day three:
Students partner up to read the lyrics and discuss context clues that help to determine the meaning of unknown words. If time permits, we all read the lyrics chorally. During this time, I observe as a formative assessment to determine my next steps. If needed, I model appropriate fluency once again.
Day four:
Begin choral reading as a class. Sometimes, one group of students reads one line while another group reads the next, alternating to the end of the lyrics. This ensures that all students are engaged and practicing their fluency.
Day five:
After we practiced choral reading, we are ready to watch the unit vocabulary video and read/rap along. I never cease to be amazed at how many of my students continue to read their lyrics while listening to the video. We study each vocabulary unit for two weeks before taking the summative unit test.
Over time, my students become confident readers, eager to volunteer to read aloud.
Start using Flocabulary for teaching reading fluency
By using choral reading with Flocabylary, incorporating sight word recognition, and encouraging fluent speech, teachers can help model fluent reading and reduce stuttering. Additionally, adjusting speech rates and incorporating repeated reading exercises significantly improve word recognition, ensuring that students have learned to read with greater proficiency.
No matter how you group your students or what type of lesson you are teaching, students are more confident and excited to read when they are choral reading Flocabulary lyrics.
New to Flocabulary? Teachers can sign up for a trial to access our lesson videos and assessment activities. Administrators can get in touch with us to learn more about unlocking the full power of Flocabulary through Flocabulary Plus.