Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion Improving reading fluency-need ideas

Blackcat, I cannot even get dd to read a book once, forget multiple times. If it is boring, she is not going to do it. I have devised games based on Peggy Kaye's book to introduce the common words in many different ways and contexts so she sees them multiple times while still keeping it interesting.

DrummerLiz, dd loved Charlotte's web too. She was so inspired that she spent two weeks building her own spider web with yarn all over the house. She would tie all kinds of stuff to her web, like spoons, pens, hair clips, stuffed toys etc. it was becoming a huge trip hazard and I finally had to put an end to it. She also loved Pippy Longstocking. Now I am reading the Adventures of Tom Sawyer but these are like smaller books each covering one chapter. I will have to devise a way for her to pay attention to the words while I am reading. Thank you for your ideas.

CCN, good to hear about your ds and where he is now with reading. When encountered with a word that she hasnt already memorized, her first line of attack is to guess based on context. if that doesnt work, she does try to read phonetically but like your ds, she gets confused. For example, she always reads 'his' as shi and then gets mad because it doesn't make any sense. I know those words she often gets confused, so I just read them for her to avoid any frustrations. I am wondering if there are multiple strategies on how reading is formally taught and that good readers employ. If so, maybe I can present those to dd and see what sticks.

Fly guy books are really popular at the school media center where I volunteer.

Squishy, thanks so much for the little miss recommendation. I checked it out on amazon and I have a feeling dd would like them. Thanks.

I notice my DS has been on a reading kick lately and has taken a renewed interest in books he "outgrew" because he can now read much of the books himself. As your DD is more mature than my DS, maybe some of the books in my toddler media thread (under preschool age) would serve as good "outgrown" books for your DD to do the same thing. All the books are stories I read to DS, not ones that he reads independently. I'm particularly thinking of Slinky Malinki, which is quite poetic and charming. I highly recommend Jon Agee's books, too. Simple and deceptively hilarious, much like Mo Willems.

Any opinions on All About Reading and All about Spelling program. http://www.allaboutlearningpress.com/all-about-reading/
I am getting a complete level 1 set free from a coworker. Should
I take it?

My DS is older (5 y/o), but we use AAR as a supplement to school reading program (I'm not exactly happy with the way reading is taught in his school). It's a phonics-based program, interactive with little "games", and very complete. You can go through the contents page of AAR level 1 to see (and skip) what she already knows, and then start progressing with new ideas she isn't quite firm on. I like it because of the solid phonics and it's progressive build on concepts. It also has a lot of fluency practice each lesson which is important for us. Sight words are introduced a little later on in level 1 IIRC. AAS should be begun after finishing level 1 of AAR (per their recommendation).

Keep in mind level 1 is meant for K age/ability. If she is advanced you may be skipping ahead or just practicing briefly with a lot of the lessons. There are other levels though so if you like the program you can always advance. For my low-attention DS5, we cannot cover all the fluency/practice words for one lesson in a day as he gets burned out quickly at the moment. But you can also break those up throughout the day (5 min in am and 5 min in pm, for example).

Thanks, displaced. Unfortunately, I did not get back to my coworker on time and she gave the set to someone else. But good to hear your feedback. I have no idea which level dd's reading ability is at. Does aar have a placement test to figure out what level program I should get. Thanks.

Sorry for the late reply. On their website they have placement questions to determine which level to use. Pre-AAR level is learning names of letters and their sounds (most common sounds I believe). Level 1 is CVC words with consonant teams (like th, ch, sh, ck, etc), some sight words, beginning and end consonant blends, as well as less common phonetic sounds of vowels, and some other things. Every other "lesson" is just practice in reading. I don't know what the further levels cover, as we are working on consonant teams now.