My 6 year old is going into first grade and we are having fluency issues with reading. She is really good at sounding out words, and honestly, she is getting words I would never expect her to. But by the time she has sounded out all the words, the fluency is disrupted and she doesn't understand the sentence.
We are practicing reading almost daily, but she is so frustrated. She is just dying to be able to read on her own, especially chapter books like the Junie B Jones series.
I am trying to work with her, but sometimes she says it makes her feel bad when she doesn't get it and she needs my help (I am super careful to not be critical and to wait until she requests help). I have been reading up on it and so many of the suggestions seem like school work - I hate to make her do homework during summer vacation!
I would love an app that she could read and then tap the word if she has a hard time with it. She has the Tag system that does this, but she has had all those books for so long, she is bored with them.
Any suggestions on how I can help her?
ETA: She is already reading the Learn to Read type books (the K-1 levels) and can get through them with little intervention, although she usally reads the sentences twice. I have been reading chapter books to her (Junie B., Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, Lucky Stars, etc.), a chapter a night, for over a year.
She has a couple of friends who are reading chapter books already and she is just dying to. She has been desperate to learn to read since she was about 3.
My youngest read this way till April of first grade. Then it just clicked.
He graduated HS in the top 3 percent in May. Don't worry, mama.
Be fore warned. I am a reading specialist and may have an "agenda"! Your daughter sounds like a typical entering-1st-grade-reader who is maybe a little ahead of the game. It is not too early to work on fluency and comprehension. It is a common misconception that kids don't need to work on those things until after they learn how to read. It is also a misconception that fluency=speed. Fluency is "making your reading sound like talking" and understanding what you are reading. Sounding out words, fluency, and comprehension all work together to make a successful reader.
It sounds to me that because she is having to work so hard at reading that she is trying to read books that are too difficult for her. The "secret" to learning fluency (and comprehension to an extent) is to read books that are "fast, fun, and easy" to steal a term from the reading system that my daughter's school uses. Reading too hard books is going to take away the enjoyment of reading too. At this age, struggling to read text is not going to make her a better reader. Reading text at a "just right" level will make her a better reader. Aim for at least 20 minutes a day. If she struggles with more than a couple of words or can't retell what she read it isn't "just right". In school she will read at an instructional level that will stretch her learning.
My suggestion is to get her easier books to read. Books by Mo Willems and Jan Thomas are great ones! Because of the speech bubbles, kids can really practice fluency, expression, and intonation. Take a look at the American Reading Company web site. They have a free app that you can download that comes with six free books that are kindergarten and first grade reading levels. I think they are also adding higher levels in the future. You can buy other books for $2 a book (or whole sets for more).
We also have an app for leveled readers from Penguin Publishers that has books for all levels. You get a couple of free ones and then can purchase more. I think they are $3-$5 a book. Your daughter can listen to the book being read to her, and she can record herself reading the text. My daughter who is going into 1st grade spends a lot of time with this app.
Poetry is also a great way to practice fluency. Especially if there are lines or phrases that repeat. Maybe she can practice reading "too easy" books and then volunteer to read them to younger kids at a local childcare center, Sunday School, etc.
To satisfy her desire for reading chapter books (which to me it sounds like she isn't ready to do independently yet) try audio books. She can read along with the narrator.
You can also never underestimate the power of reading aloud to her. Don't hesitate to read books that are far beyond her "reading level". This summer I finished reading all of the Little House on the Prairie books to my daughter. She will learn vocabulary, sentence structure, and comprehension skills through your modeling. All of that will help her become a better reader. Don't just read to her. Stop and talk about what words mean, make predictions about what will happen next, talk about characters' motivations for doing things, talk about how characters change. When you aren't reading, but see a connection in your everyday life to the book you are reading point it out. Take a look at The Read Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease. It has great information.
What is important now is to build her self-confidence and enjoyment for reading. If she is worried about not reading as well as her friends compare it to how we all learn things at different rates. She might be a better swimmer than one of her friends. Or maybe she can ride a bike without training wheels but her friend still needs them. That doesn't mean she will always be better. Her friend might need to practice more, but then she will be just as good.
I think you are right in not making her work too hard on it this summer. Keep it fun! Let me know if you have any questions.
I'd be tempted to ask the ped for a referral to a speech and language therapist, mom. Speech therapists test for language abilities, and fluency is one of those. She may figure out some little "hiccups" in her language processing that affects reading, and can tell you what to do to help her. A written evaluation could be given to the school to get your daughter some extra help with a reading specialist.
There is no downside in getting an evaluation done. Meanwhile, read to her a lot. And have her put a bookmark under the line she is reading so that she doesn't look at all the words on the page at the same time.
Good luck!
For the school district we're in, your daughter would be considered advanced. Most kids in my girls' classes (they're 6 as well, entering first grade) aren't anywhere near chapter books. So - if it's possible, remind her how great she'd going and how normal she is to be struggling with this. Tell her how you had to learn to read too. Me relating my girls' troubles to my own has helped tremendously. It really made both of them relax about making mistakes.
I'd love an app too where kids could tap for help rather than having to ask Mom. That said, I'd probably try the library to see if there are books that are in between the Learn to Read types and a full chapter book. There ARE at our library and they've been great for my two, who can read, but can't do a whole chapter book. They sound very much like your girl.
Sounds hard for her. My little guy is going into 1st grade and can't read at all yet. He just isn't ready. My hubby has a super high IQ and he didn't read until the summer before 2nd grade. He went to his grandmother's house in SLC for the summer and she read to him out of the Book of Mormon. By the end of summer he could read.
When their brain gets it they suddenly can do it all.
Reading, up until the 3rd grade, is learning to read.
"Fluency" which is the ability to read quickly and accurately AND comprehend at the same time, is not attained until later. Not succinctly in 1st grade or Kindergarten.
This is all, researched based facts, which I studied this past summer in a Teacher course.
You need to read things, that she can read. And read along with her.
Learning to read is multifaceted.
ie: it is about learning: phonemes, phonics, and once knowing that, then later levels of reading can be accomplished.
Phonemes is about the individual sounds, of the spoken word.
Phonics is about, the alphabet sounds and recognition of the written word, and word families etc. ie: mat, sat, cat, etc.
Then, once this is acquired skills in the lower grades, then different types of reading approaches are used. Then fluency AND comprehension of what is read, can be attained.
These stages of reading, occurs in stages.
Then there is sight words. Which basically is learned by memorization.
Fluency, is also about reading without pausing or reading in a choppy manner. For a Kindergarten and 1st grader, they may still read in this manner. Which is developmental.
Your daughter is only going to 1st grade. She is not the only 1st grader that will be reading this way. Don't worry.
I assisted my son's 1st grade class with reading. I know the broad spectrum of reading ability in this grade level.
By the end of 1st grade, you WILL see, a marked difference in your daughter's reading and comprehension, ability.
Don't fret about it now.
She does not have to be fully able about reading, yet.
In 1st grade, they work on reading of course, in grade level appropriate methods.
Don't push her, to have to read like a 3rd grader.
And fluency and comprehension is not fully attained yet, at your daughter's age.
Explain to her, that she is learning.
She is appropriate for her age and grade.
And do not compare herself.
It is not an indication of her own "smartness."
Read aloud with her.
A sentence or 2-3 sentences, that is in her reading ability.
Then after she reads it, ask her questions about what she just read. Let her tell you, about what she read.
As you do this, you are "practicing" comprehension with her.
And also, have her write, what she just read.
This is a very typical early reader, decodes well but lacks fluency (and usually lacks the ability to really discuss a book and therefore does poorly on school tests.) (I teach in a public elementary school) Fluency and comprehension come with time.
Things to help fluency: rereading a LOT. choose favorite books and read them every night, enhancing the stories with character voices and sound effects, have fun with this.
Reading every other page, this often helps to introduce new words in the book as authors tend to repeat vocabulary, casually introduces chara names and settings and models fluent reading, and again have fun with character voices and sound effects!
The real problem is your daughter is a very advanced reader, but very stressed about reading. I realize you're trying not to stress her, but in trying so hard to help her be a better reader, you're sending the message that she SHOULD be a better reader. To avoid raising a stressed out six yr old, future nervous wreck (google teacup child) or a child who dislikes reading, send the message that you would much rather read TO her.
What happens if she just reads a chapter book, on her own, and just sort of muddles through?
Sometimes the force of a great story can carry a child over the tricky spots, and they can overcome challenges without even realizing they're doing it.
Part of reading *is* figuring out new words from context. Even adults do this. And for some people, it's the learning style that's the best fit for their personality type.
And if not, if she doesn't get to Junie B. Jones until partway through 1st grade, that's fine. She'll be right on target for her age.
Sounds very similar to my daughter. My daughter is a good reader and she's not quite ready for those yet (although she is approaching it). We had her in a summer reading program (once a week for 5 weeks) and they bumped her from an entering 1st grade to the entering 2nd grade program and she did very well (she's 6 and going into 1st grade at the end of this month because of a Dec birthday).
At age 6, chapter books are a bit much (it IS possible but not typical). The teacher of the summer program teacher 2nd grade in school and definately concurred with this.
What I suggest (and the program taught as well) is to get Easy Reader #2 & #3. Read it the first time TO her. Then have her read it. Start with a sentence or two, then a page or two and if that is too easy for her you can read the whole book. Let her read it more than once to you (15-20 minutes at a time or until she is seems too frustrated). Start reading chapter books to her (like Charlotte's Web or similiar) a chapter or two a night.
**I read what you added and that is really typical. My girl is blowing through the K-1 (seems too easy), can read quite a bit of upper level books but doesn't have the fluency yet. Even reads some passages that you wouldn't expect her too.
Your girl sounds normal. Allow her to continue the easy books and those just a bit harder, repition will give her the fluency. Then it's time to move up. The instructor I previously mentioned said the the "Easy Reader 2" level is a really wide level and it takes time to move to the next level. Read the book (the level she can read with help) to her, let her read it to you and help where she needs it. Let her read it again. She will get it...don't stress or she will too.
