Reading Fluency Best Practices
By: Angela Marocco
Getting Started!
Determine each student’s Lexile range from NWEA reports
Follow these Steps on our Standardized Testing Link:
NWEA Reports
Teacher Reports
Lexile Reading Range is listed in the reading report
Correlate the Lexile range with WPCA Book Level Key
Set AR goals using Goal Setting Chart
Set goal based off how much time they read at school and home
AR Website Directions:
Library search
Accelerated Reader
Class Record Books
Reading Practice Goals
Select Marking Period
Edit Student Goals
Enter goals under points column.
Put colored sticker (with goals written on them) on back of each
student’s library card
Show students how to find AR books and point values on sticker
spine
Create goal tracking poster with student names/percentages
Set Up Student Blogging at Kidblog.org
Kidblog.org will allow students to interactively blog about their responses to the literature they are reading. This will help with comprehension building. It will also allow for peer/teacher feedback.
Set Up Student Blogging at Kidblog.org
Examples of Comprehension Prompts for blogging:1. Make a prediction of what you will read next
2. Make a connection using a prompt:- your own life - a happening at school - other people or
problems- similar events - similar times and places - other books or
stories-other writings by the same author - other writings on the same topic
3. Make a response using a prompt: - It was funny when - My favorite part was when - I didn’t like - I liked this chapter because - I like how the author
4. Make a THICK Question using a prompt:- Why do you think - What if ?- How would you feel if ? - What might ?
Let the race begin!
You now have an understanding of how to step up the basics for the program. Now, let’s talk more about how to implement this program in YOUR classroom!
During Workshop
-Find a 30-40 min time block dedicate to SSR reading
-Assign weekly AR helper to call students names to manage AR quizzes
-Allow students to read in reading areas so that students are spread apart
-Have students take turns using the computers for blogging on comprehension questions.
Getting the Students to READ!-Have students read library books at home and complete weekly reading logs
-Pick leveled books for students to read in pairs (not aloud) during SSR
-Upload audio books for pairs to listen to during workshop time for a two week period
-Set up a at home audio book rotation schedule for lowest students
Students only read library books at home
-Complete weekly reading logs with summaries-Logs due Monday or library day
-Encourage students to finish books, renew if not finished-Allows students to have correct reading material
available at home-Occasionally assign returning the reading log after the
first day to get students started on logs.-Hold students accountable for turning in logs, have them
read during recess if they are missing. -Email logs to parents every week
Example of Weekly Reading Log
Pick leveled books for students to read in pairs during SSR
-Series books work well (Increases motivation to continue to read)
-Rent up to 50 books from local library in addition to school library
www.cadl.org
www.lexile.com
www.arbookfinder.com
Use the school’s library catalog
Username: 27.libraryadmin
Password: checkitout
Audio Books
Audio Books Benefits-Audio books increases fluency, allows students to read up to
200 points above Lexile and when using series motivates students who struggle with reading to continue to read the
next book in the series.-Allows for strong start to AR quizzes
-Lets higher students to continue reading challenging series books after they’ve read the first book on cd
-Allows for author studies (For example a pair of students would read Roald Dahl books every time it’s their turn to
read audio Books)-Management Tip: Write down the track and end time at the
end of workshop on a student bookmark
Upload Audio Books for pairs to listen to during workshop time
-Audio Books available from CADL. -“Rip” to Windows Media Player
(Then you wont need to CDs anymore and can always access all ripped cds)
-Need two copies of each book for students to read in pairs-Can have two students listen on smart board computer (with headphone splitters) Two additional students can listen at one thin client computer under your username
(Cannot access windows media player properly on two thin clients simultaneously)
Differentiating Audio Books
-Use two week period for each audio book
-Can do up to 8 students every two weeks with headphone splitters (If you do an ELA workshop and SSR workshop). Each rotation pick 4 low students, 2 middle students and 2 high students. Stick with this rotation all year. Low students listen to books every two weeks.
-This allows your 8 lowest students to read one audio book a month
-Match partners that are very close in Lexile range -Send audio books home with low readers every other week (4 students one time and 4 the next week)
1st Rotation
2nd Rotation
3rd Rotation
4th Rotation
Below Grade Level Readers
LJayJ’vonEliseaKa’Haria
JeremiahDylanNachelleVictoria
LJayJ’vonEliseaKa’Haria
JeremiahDylanNachelleVictoria
Grade Level Readers
AdaSam
BrianJulianna
AlyssaClaudia
AverieZach
Above Grade Level Readers
KaitlynnOlivia
ManxTiegan
Jose Darien
CatieEvelyn
Audio Book Rotation Example
Program Accountability
How can we support our students along the way? How can we make sure they make it to
the finish line?
Program Accountability
-Fill out poster chart and share each student’s progress before library time. (Keep a sticker on the percentage you should be at each week, 11% for 9 week quarter to total about 100%)
Show students how to check their own progress on AR
-Student logs in
-View Goals and Points
-Point out percentage of goal met location on the screen
Program Accountability
-Share AR progress with parents at conferences, via email or in person
-Intervene with struggling students during last few weeks
-Readjust goals if students meet them too quickly
-Reward students that meet their goals with AR celebration, etc.
Measuring Student Success
How can we be sure are students are growing as readers as a result of this program?
How do we know if they made it to the finish line?
Measuring Student SuccessTo track student reading progress teachers will
be able to look at four resources of data:
1. Accelerated reader quizzes results and individual student goal progress.
2. Student reading progress on standardized MAP testing.
3. Dibels Results
4. Track student progress of comprehension blogging.
Happy Reading!