Ms. Smith's Reading Lessons 

1. Say: “In order to become great readers, we have to become fluent readers. To be a fluent reader means you can read accurately and smoothly. This also means you don’t have to slowly sound out or decode each word. Once you become a fluent reader you will be able to read books and enjoy them because you won’t have to focus so much on each word.”

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2. Say/Model: "I am going to let you listen to me read a short sentence two times. When I'm done, we will take a vote on which time I sounded better. (Read choppily) “Jack- and- Annie- ggggg-otttt – in- the- ttttrrrrreeeeee-hooouuuseeee.”  (Then read smoothly) Let me try this passage again. “Jack and Annie got in the treehouse.” (Ask for a show of hands) “Who liked listening to my first reading? How about the second? Why did the second time sound better to you? Right! The second time sounded a lot better to listen to because I didn't have to stop to figure out any of the words. That’s called fluency and that’s what you’re going to do today as well” 

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3. Say: "Something that is also helpful is if there is a word you do not know, you should read to the end of the sentence because often times there will be clues that will help you figure it out! This is a strategy called cross-checking”.

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4. Say: “We are going to practice becoming fluent readers by reading about a brother and sister named Jack and Annie. Jack and Annie’s family has a magic treehouse that always takes them back in time to crazy adventures!!! Jack and Annie think they are just going on a relaxing vacation to Mexico. They get to a beautiful sandy beach and go for a quick float on a raft but they come across a very sharp-toothed friend. Is it really a friend or is it something bad?  You’ll have to read and see! I am going to read the first two pages of the book so that we can start this story together!” [Pass out copies to students and read aloud the first two pages to them.]

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5. Write the directions on the whiteboard for students to look at. As you are writing it down, explain what you will be having them do. Say “Now, everyone is going to get a partner. One of you should come up to the front and grab a fluency chart, and a stopwatch. you will also both need to get your writing journals out of wherever you have them stored. The other partner can find a spot for both of you to read together. You both will be counting the number of words on pages 3-7 and make sure to write that on your fluency chart and your whiteboard”.

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6.Say: “You and your partner will each read those 5 pages 3 times while the other times your reading with a stopwatch. If you are the listener, make sure you listen closely for mistakes and keep track of them on your whiteboard.”

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7. Say: after you and your partner have read the 5 pages 3 times teach and you have your time and your mistakes, you will do a math problem where you will find out your fluency. What you are going to do is take the total number of words from those pages that you counted at the beginning and then subtract the number of tallies for each reading. Then you will use this to begin filling out your fluency chart.

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8. Once students are finished with their fluency chart say: “now I’m going to show 3 comprehension questions from the 1st chapter which is the one we read a few times together and independently. Answer these 3 questions in your writing journal” [anwers provided in red]

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1. What were the children up to when they found Teddy’s note? They had just finished snorkeling and were riding their bikes home

2. How do Merlin and Morgan want to thank Jack and Annie for their hard work? By sending them on holiday, or a vacation

3. Where do Jack and Annie want to go on vacation and why? Cozumel; the snorkeling is great there

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