I have been doing lots of reflection on how to increase reading rate, and we are just getting started as a district in taking this on. When it comes to automaticity, I think it is a bit like math facts. Whether it is truly fact recall or speedy derivation, it does not matter as long as it is efficient. We are really putting an emphasis on word study in our lower grades--not the learning of words, but the learning of spelling patterns. I still believe that is more important than memorizing lists. That said, there has to be a bank of commonly known words for a child to use to anchor reading and that bank has to grow.
One flashcard game that I sent home with primary kids was simple beyond belief and although I laughingly called it 'flashcards in disguise', the kids did not tire of it. Imagine a 9x12 inch sheet of construction paper divided into six equal spaces (2x3 grid), each space labeled with a number from one to six. In a baggie, what are truly flashcards--called game cards-- which were the sight words under study (in duplication, so each word appeared more than once). Cards are shuffled and distributed face down to the six spaces. A die is tossed and a card is drawn from the corresponding stack. If you read it, you keep it. If others read it, fine and dandy, but it goes back in the stack. Winner has the most cards. Can be extended with word sorts. I hope you keep this conversation on list, as this is an important issue. How best to increase rate without messaging the wrong message about reading? Lori On 10/28/07 5:02 PM, "gina nunley" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I too have students who are focusing on increasing speed. They are sixth > graders whose strategy work is progressing well, and they love to read, but > they're painfully aware that their rate is slower than most. > > Do any of you have approaches you've used. I only have 30 minutes with this > group so I need something simple. We were doing timed readings, but I didn't > see much growth. Perhaps I didn't give it a fair chance. I have avoided good > old fashioined flash cards with words, though I know a teacher who believes it > develops automaticity. Any ideas? > > You can e-mail me out of the group at [EMAIL PROTECTED] if you'd like. > > Thanks! > _________________________________________________________________ > Windows Live Hotmail and Microsoft Office Outlook together at last. Get it > now. > http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HA102225181033.aspx?pid=CL1006269710 > 33 > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > [email protected] > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > -- Lori Jackson District Literacy Coach & Mentor Todd County School District Box 87 Mission SD 57555 http:www.tcsdk12.org ph. 605.856.2211 Literacies for All Summer Institute July 17-20. 2008 Tucson, Arizona _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
