A Fluency Christmas with Jack & Annie

Rationale:

While developing into strong readers it is important we become more fluent with our words. Fluent means being able to read words accurately and automatic. When you are not having to sit there and decode each word reading becomes much easier. With this lesson, students will begin to learn to read fluently. They will gain this by working with a partner and timing themselves reading. This lesson will bring improvement through repeated practice by reading a chapter of a book. 

 

Materials: 

• Sentence written on board ready to go (Jack and Annie celebrate Christmas.)

• Printed out reading chart for each student 

• Stopwatches for each pair

• Class set of Magic Tree House Merlin Missions: Christmas in Camelot

• Worksheet for each student with questions they will turn in

• Pencils for each student 

• Assessment sheet for each student 

• Whiteboards and markers for each student. 

 

Procedure:

1. ~say~ Alright class today we will be working on reading fluency. This means we are able to read words accurately and clearly. This also means that you will learn to not have to sound out and decode words as you read. This will make reading more fun for you because you will no longer have to focus on sounding out each word. 

2. ~say~ So I am going to demonstrate to you using this sentence I have written here. So Jack and Annie cc-ee-ll-ee-bb-rr-aa-tttee Chr-iiii-ssss---mmm-asss. Did that sound good to you guys? (Let’s students answer) Alright guys I am going to read it again, listen. Jack and Annie celebrate Christmas. Did this sound better? (Let’s students answer) It does sound better doesn’t it? This is because the second time I read the sentence I was not sounding out the words. You now also know the new words celebrate and Christmas. This is an example of using fluency.

3. ~say~  A good way to help you figure out what a word is by continuing to read the sentence. Do not stop reading! This is a strategy we call cross-checking. 

4. ~say~ So to practice today we are going to practice fluency with a partner. You and your partner will be reading five pages to each other from the same book. (Put them in pairs and space them throughout the room) So to mark how well you improved on your reading we will be using these stopwatches and these charts. So will one partner come up and grab a stopwatch and two copies of the chart. (Students come up to grab items). So looking at this chart we see that there is a place to put your name and your partners name. There is also a place where you will enter the title of the book and the total number of words. 

5. ~say~ The book we will be reading is the Magic Tree House Merlin Missions: Christmas in Camelot. This is a book about a brother and sister, Jack and Annie, who have a magical treehouse. One day after they arrive at their treehouse they find a Royal Invitation from a Royal to Court to spend Christmas with them. Where is this Royal Court? And what adventures await them? So I need the partner who did not come up here before to come up here and grab a book for them and their partner. (Students come and grab books)

6. ~say~ Now you will read these five pages three times to your partner. And if you are not the one reading you will be using your whiteboard to mark a tally for every word they get wrong. Once done reading stop the stopwatch and take the number they got wrong and subtract it from the amount of words. You will then write that number down and the time on your reading chart. You will do this three times before switching roles but before you switch I want the checker to put a check mark under the reading time that had the smoothest reading and the least amount of errors. (Let’s students begin work and walk around making sure they are timing and marking correctly) 

7. ~say~ Alright now that everyone is done I want you to return to your desks. (Give them time) Now pass up your reading chart to the front of the room. And while I collect I will be passing out a comprehension sheet for you to complete on your own. (Collect and pass out. Once done go back to desk and begin to assess the chart. Use the words x 60 /seconds formula. Make this into chart so students can see their progress.)

8. ~say~ Alright class I will now be collecting your sheets. (Collect sheets and go over answers with class. Analyze answers later on and comment before adding it to Reading Chart.) Good job today guys, now come bring me your books!

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Partner Reading Chart 

Name: _____________

Checker: ______________ 

Title of Book: _________________

Total Number of Words: ___

1. ____ words read in ___ minutes 

2. ____ words read in ___ minutes 

3. ____ words read in ___ minutes 

 

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Comprehension Sheet 

Name: ______________

 Directions: Using your pencil answer the questions below by yourself. 

1. Why would seeing a Dove make Annie think Morgan has come to visit?

2. Why do you think Morgan sent a note this time around and not a book?

3. Why do you think Jack and Annie are so excited to see the royals of Camelot?

4. Why did the tree house begin spinning when Jack said those words?

 

 

References: 

Smith, Logan. A Fluency Vacation with Jack and Annie. https://lms0084.wixsite.com/readinglessonplans/growing-independence-and-fluency

Buckles, Natalie. Dancing with Fluency. https://ngb0012.wixsite.com/w-ebsite/my-project-1

Osbourne, Mary Pope & Murdocca, Sal. Magic Tree House Merlin Missions: Christmas in Camelot. Random House, 2001. Ibooks. 

Caparo, Antonio. https://antoniocaparo.com/christmas-in-camelot