Free lesson
Three Reads to Smooth Reading
Does your child read one slow word at a time? In this lesson your child practices a few tricky words, hears a short passage read smoothly, and then reads it three times. Each read gets a little easier, so your child can hear and feel their reading get smoother.
What Your Child Will Practice
- Reading a few tricky words before the story
- Listening to smooth, expressive reading
- Reading words in small "talking chunks"
- Rereading the same text until it flows
Before You Start
Grab paper, a pencil, and three small cards or scraps of paper. Copy this short passage onto the paper in big, clear print:
Rocky ran to the pond. / He saw three ducks. / "Quack!" said the ducks. / Rocky ran fast, / but the ducks flew up / and away. / Rocky sat down / and wagged his tail. / "Next time," he said.
Tell your child: "Rocky loves to chase ducks, but he never catches them! Today we'll read a little story about him three times. Listen to how your reading changes."
Step-by-Step
Step 1: Warm up the tricky words (2 minutes).
Write three, ducks, and said on the three cards. Read each one together. Have your child read the cards in a different order until each word feels easy. If one is still slow, point to the sounds and blend them together.
Step 2: Listen first (1 minute).
Read the passage aloud with expression while your child follows along with a finger. Make "Quack!" loud and "Next time" a little sad. Then ask, "What happened to Rocky?"
Step 3: Read 1, careful (2 minutes).
Your child reads the passage on their own. Help with any word they are stuck on for more than a few seconds, then let them keep going. Don't correct every small slip. The goal is getting through it.
Step 4: Read 2, in chunks (2 minutes).
Point to the slashes. Explain: "Each slash is a little breath. Read the words between the slashes together, like you are talking." Read the first chunk together, then let your child read the rest.
Step 5: Read 3, like Rocky is telling it (2 minutes).
Your child reads one more time, using a fun voice for the ducks and for Rocky. Ask, "Which read sounded smoothest? Which was easiest?"
Quick Practice Activity: Chunk It Yourself
Write this new sentence without slashes: The little duck swam to the rock and sat in the sun. Have your child read it once, then draw a light slash where they would take a little breath. There is more than one good answer. Let them read it again using their chunks. Finish by having your child read their favorite line from the Rocky passage to someone else in the family.
Tips for Parents
- Keep it short. Three reads of one passage is plenty for one day.
- Don't time your child or make it a race. Smooth and correct matters more than fast.
- Praise effort you can hear: "That read sounded more like talking!"
- If reading stays very slow after plenty of short practice, or if your child still struggles to sound out words, talk with their teacher.
What's Next?
Wondering why your child reads so slowly? Read Like Rocky, the 12-week at-home program by Dr. Nancy Barker, Ed.D., starts with a free assessment that shows you where to begin.