Grade: Grade 1 Subject: English Language Arts Unit: Reading Fluency Lesson: 3 of 6 SAT: Information+Ideas ACT: Reading

Text Practice

Learn

Now that you know how to read smoothly and with expression, it is time to practice with real texts! Reading fluency gets better the more you practice. In this lesson, you will read short stories and passages to build your reading speed and confidence.

What Makes a Fluent Reader?

  • Accuracy: Reading the words correctly
  • Speed: Reading at a good pace (not too fast, not too slow)
  • Expression: Making your voice sound interesting
  • Understanding: Knowing what the words mean as you read

Tips for Practice Reading

  1. Read the text once to yourself quietly
  2. Read it again out loud
  3. Read it a third time, trying to sound like you are telling a story
  4. Ask yourself: What was this text about?

Examples

Here are some short texts to practice reading. Try reading each one three times!

Example Text 1: The Red Ball

"I have a red ball. It is big and round. I can throw my ball. I can catch my ball. My dog likes to chase my red ball!"

Practice tip: Notice the periods. Pause briefly at each one.

Example Text 2: My Cat

"My cat is soft. She has black fur. She likes to sleep in the sun. When I pet her, she purrs. I love my cat!"

Practice tip: Make your voice sound happy when you read "I love my cat!"

Practice

Read each passage below. Then answer the question about it.

1. Read this text: "The sun is up. It is a new day. I see a bird in the tree. The bird sings a song."

What does the bird do?

2. Read this text: "Tom has a hat. The hat is blue. He wears it to school. His friends like his hat."

What color is Tom's hat?

3. Read this text: "We went to the park. I played on the swings. My sister went down the slide. We had fun!"

Where did they go?

4. Read this text: "Mom made lunch. She made a sandwich. It had ham and cheese. It was so good!"

What was in the sandwich?

5. Read this text out loud three times. Try to sound better each time: "The frog sat on a log. He saw a fly. He jumped up high. He did not catch the fly. He tried again!"

6. Read this text: "I can run fast. I can jump high. I can skip and hop. I like to move!"

Which word means to go quickly? (run, jump, skip)

7. Read this text: "Rain is falling down. Drip, drip, drip. I need my coat. I need my boots. Now I can splash in the puddles!"

What sound does the rain make?

8. Read this text with expression: "Oh no! My ice cream fell! It is on the ground. I am so sad. Mom says she will get me a new one. Yay!"

How should your voice sound when you read "Oh no!"?

9. Read this text: "Dad took me fishing. We sat by the lake. I caught a fish! It was small but I was proud."

What did they do by the lake?

10. Practice this longer text: "Once there was a little duck. The duck lived by a pond. Every day, the duck would swim in the pond. The duck loved the cool water. One day, the duck made a new friend. It was a frog! Now the duck and the frog play together."

Who became friends in this story?

Check Your Understanding

Think about your reading practice today.

  1. Did you read each text more than once?
  2. Did your reading get smoother each time?
  3. Could you answer questions about what you read?
  4. Did you use expression when reading exciting parts?

If you answered "yes" to these questions, great job! You are becoming a fluent reader!

Next Steps

  • Read a book at home and practice reading it three times
  • Read to a family member or stuffed animal
  • When ready, move on to the next lesson: Writing Application