One of our main focus areas in English is teaching reading at PSPC is
developing reading fluency in our students. Reading is the key to success and parents can play an
important part in improving the literacy skills of their children. Reading aloud to even a baby is important as
it builds their listening, memory and vocabulary skills. All of which are essential prerequisites for
children to become successful readers. Once a child reaches school, home
reading may be sent home by a teacher.
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When students have learned to read and automatically
recognize many words by sight, they begin to read simple text aloud in a way
that sounds like natural speech. Fluency is the rate (words per minute),
accuracy (number of words correctly read) and the expression that they use.
By year 2, fluent reading is generally expected, yet a great
deal of foundation building must occur in order to make it happen. Students in
the upper grades who read aloud word by word or with little attention to
punctuation require intervention. When a student does not read fluently, they
lose meaning and can’t comprehend what they are reading.
Improving reading fluency is simple. We can do this by
providing many opportunities for students to RE-READ familiar texts over and
over again. By doing this, they can improve their reading rate, their accuracy
and their expression.
How can you help? Read books, the newspaper, articles on the
internet, poems, magazines, instructions, recipes, scripts and so on with your
children. When they are familiar with the texts, that is, you have helped them
work out any difficult words, allow them to practice RE-READING the texts over
and over again to you. Ask other family members or friends to listen to them
read. Record their reading, time their reading and record the improvements in
their fluency.
Above all enjoy the time reading with your child and if you have any concerns about your child
and their reading, please make an appointment to discuss it with your child’s
teacher. Happy reading!!