Florida Center for Reading Research
Phonics: High Frequency Words, Word Bowling
Go bowling for high-frequency words! Partners take turns drawing bowling ball cards and read the word printed on them. If the learner is successful, they record their score on a scorecard.
Curated OER
How Do I know That a Book Is Just Right for Me to Read?
Students choose a book for reading. In this language arts instructional activity, students take steps to evaluate a book for free reading. Students make a list of words found in the book that they are unfamiliar with.
Curated OER
Reading Like Wild Animals!
Students read orally a number of times to increase oral reading speed and fluency. The teacher models fluent oral reading, and the students practice on sample sentences. They then read with a partner working to increase their oral...
Curated OER
Put a Stop to "Choppy and Stoppy" Reading
Students use a crosscheck strategy to improve their oral reading rate and fluency. They are timed reading "Bud the Sub" orally three times, and work to improve their time and expression each time through. Students encourage each other...
Curated OER
Reading and Racing with Arthur
Students explore the importance of reading with fluency. They listen as the teacher reads a book pronouncing every word by its phonemes -- choppy and broken up. They then practice reading the book "Arthur's Reading Race." They are...
Curated OER
Read Like Sonic the Hedgehog
Learners investigate the benefits of rereading books to increase reading fluency and comprehension in this lesson. They practice saying site words orally as quickly as they can. They then work with a partner reading a story multiple...
Curated OER
Speedy Reading!
Students work to improve reading fluency by practicing oral reading skills. They read and reread sentences, noticing the effect repeated reading has on their speed and accuracy. In groups, they complete timed readings and work to...
Curated OER
5-4-3-2-1 Blast Off To Reading
Students practice reading with fluency by rereading texts to increase their speed. They listen to the teacher model fluent, smooth, and expressive oral reading. They then work in a small group reading orally and self-assessing their...
Curated OER
Exceptional Expression!
Young elementary learners develop expression while reading. They listen as the teacher demonstrates expression when reading aloud. Individual learners read with a partner and practice using expression in their reading. When their partner...
Curated OER
Sound It Out!
Help your class improve their spelling skills. Learners take a test, are given a particular spelling rule to practice, and play a Bingo game. This employs various methods for practicing spelling skills.
Curated OER
The Tell-Tale Heart
Readers listen and critically read fictional prose to answer prediction questions at designated stopping points, and then they give a summary of the short story. This instructional activity is ideal for English language learners...
Curated OER
What's that Mammal?
Learning by example is always effective if it's paired with independent practice opportunities! Model good reading practices for your class. Learners listen to the teacher model examples of reading with voice, expression, and tone...
Curated OER
Yay for Expression!
Review the concept of expressive reading. Through modeling, the teacher shows them that more expression makes reading more interesting and enjoyable to listen to. They review ending punctuation marks and the types of expression and...
Curated OER
Blast-Off to Blending
Practice working with different phonemes in consonants and vowels. Sounds are written on squares that get put on a rocket to "blast off" and meet other sounds. The teacher first models blending, then reads the new words. Young readers...
Curated OER
Reader's Theater
Conduct a Reader's Theater. Third, fourth, and fifth graders rewrite books with a baseball theme to a Reader's Theater format. They form groups of four or five, practice reading the script, and then perform it for an audience.
Curated OER
Teaching Reading Comprehension through Social Studies Readings
Examine how immigrants have changed the environment of the United States. Individually, middle schoolers will take a pre- and post-test to assess their reading comprehension. In groups, they compare and contrast the religions of...
Curated OER
High in the Sky with Fluency
Students practice reading orally to increase speed and fluency in this lesson. The teacher models fluent reading by reading orally the book "Arthur's Reading Race." The students then work with a partner taking turns reading and...
Curated OER
Fluency is Freedom!
Students read orally in groups of two to increase reading speed and fluency in this instructional activity. They read provided books which emphasize the short vowel sounds. The pairs time each others reading and offer encouragement and...
Curated OER
Learning About Phrases To Improve Fluency And Comprehension
Investigate the concept of phrases and how they are a crucial element for successful reading comprehension. High schoolers identify key phrases in reading selections. Afterward, they engage in writing exercises regarding what they have...
Curated OER
Answering Questions in Spanish
Although you'll have to search the database for the accompanying handout, this resource could easily stand alone. Your Spanish speakers are starting to gain comfort in asking and answering questions. First they read the question in its...
Curated OER
Using Aphorisms to Help Dealing with People
Here's a formal plan for what many effective teachers already do: Provide a week's worth of aphorisms and have learners choose one to write about in their journals each day. They reflect on the meaning of each aphorism and project how it...
Teacher Created Materials
The Tragedy of Julius Caesar
Bring Julius Caesar to life with a reader's theatre approach that engages the entire class. The opening exercises model the importance of reading with expression while choral reading exercises permit class members to practice their...
Curated OER
Starting Stone Soup
Second graders complete activities using the story Stone Soup. In this reading fluency lesson, 2nd graders read a fluency page that reviews the vocabulary in the book. Students then participate in readers theater to promote reading...
Curated OER
Make Way for Readers
Students practice reading fluently and with expression. They explore different techniques for reading quickly when coming upon unknown words. They also participate in a paired reading activity in which they read "Make Way for...