It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.
Albert Einstein
Today's meeting offered a brief refresher course on several strategies of building fluency, such as choral reading and repeated reading. As the presenter mentioned, it isn't enough to just have students read with accuracy, speed, and expressiveness, but also to read with meaning. I have learned in all my courses, that to be a fluent reader, one must be able to comprehend the text, otherwise it would be like a chicken with no head running around in all directions but no set place to go.
Watching the choral reading volunteers perform "Goldilocks and the Three Bears," reminded me of the time that my cohort and I did one for UOG's Language Arts Conference about two years ago. We really enjoyed performing for our audience, as did they when we asked several volunteers to perform as well. Choral reading is not only a catalyst for building fluency, but an engaging and fun strategy that students anywhere really enjoy doing. I've tried it on my students, and it really does work.
Also, choosing the appropriate materials as tools in educating our students is very important. There is a wealth of resources out there that any teacher can use from, and what I like about the company, "Teacher Created Materials Publishing," the company that today's presenter works for, is that it was formed by teachers for teachers and students. Obviously, those former teachers' hodgepodge of background information and knowledge surely contributed to the success of the company.
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Hi Geri,
ReplyDeleteYes, I do believe that today was very much a refresher, and I was glad, I had "prior" knowledge. It is always reaffirming when I understand what presenters are talking about, to know we are on the same page...or wavelength. It was also reminded me of when I first joined IRA. It was my first year teaching, I was teaching seventh and eighth grade reading at Untalan Middle School, coming from a family of educators, I "tagged" along with them to my first IRA meeting and became a member. Over the years though I have just become too busy with other activities, I wasn't able to continue with IRA. I'm glad that the Reading Specialist Program "encourages" us to be members. All the energy from the morning was a bit contagious, as I am "pumped" up now to READ!