Fluency Fun!

Happy Sunday! I'm FINALLY getting around to my fluency post after weeks of delaying it. Today, I'm going to share some of my favorite ways to practice fluency in the classroom. It's one of my favorite things to teach. Why? Because it's so easy to make engaging, exciting, and differentiated for all your students! One of my main goals for fluency is to lay a foundation while also providing engagement and fun activities. Prepare for tons of pictures!

First up is an app that's quickly become a staple in my classroom. One Minute Reader is a free iPad app similar to the program Read Naturally. Teachers set reading levels for their students based on how they perform on a quick placement test.

Here's a screenshot of two different reading levels. Who doesn't love an app that can work for multiple students? Each student's progress can be saved so you don't have to start over.

Students work through different activities with each story such as a cold read and read along, just like with the program Read Naturally.

Each level has one free story, with additional stories available to purchase. It takes a lot for me to spend money on apps. I can say with confidence additional purchases for One Minute reader are well worth the price.

Next, is one of our FAVORITE activities to do in the classroom, Fluency With a Twist. It's guaranteed that I'll hear tons of giggles when my students do this activity.

Students scan a QR code to read the stories in a special voice or while doing a certain task. No story is read the same way twice in a row.

Even the most shy, reluctant reader can find their inner actor/actress!  A little tech combined with movement is a winner combination! There's also an  October Edition now available in my store.

Cara Carroll, one of my favorite bloggers has a wonderful set of products called Rock Your Fluency. I have both the first grade and second grade editions. I love how the fluency phrases are divided into sets. The dice games are a favorite in our weekly fluency station. There's just something magical about students getting to use a highlighter while working!

Miss DeCarbo has two wonderful products to practice sight word fluency.I laminated my copies to save paper. Students draw their illustrations with a dry erase marker. Repeated reading certainly does help with fluency. I also love that students get a chance to practice expression in their voices with the different end punctuation in the passages.

Sorry for the lamination glare! I use the fluency passages for my intervention groups. My struggling readers gain confidence each time they read. 

What are you favorite resources for fluency? Have a fabulous week!

I-Time Tub

Happy Hump Day everyone! Let's talk intervention time shall we? It's the perfect time of day we have set aside to work with minis in small groups. No phone calls, everything flows smoothly, and there are never interruptions right? Um, how about a big fat NO! It is just me or does it seem like chaos can develop when intervention time is about to start?
I started thinking of ways I could still meet with my small groups while still giving some of my other minis a chance to still do meaningful activities. After one trip to Five Below the I-Time tub was born.

I wanted to have another option for my intervention students besides computer work or reading a book. Computer programs are great, but they will never take the place of teacher interaction. Some days I discover one or two students may need more or less time with me depending on their needs. 

Here's a quick rundown of what's currently in the I-Time tub.

We love the different Candy Land games from Mel D.  Mel has a fantastic variety of Candy Land games for both reading and math to fit your needs. The games are easy to play and engaging at the same time.

Fluency With a Twist is always entertaining. I created this product not only to help with fluency, but also reading with expression.

Zinger!  file folder games are also a rotation for the I-Time tub. Minis practice spelling and phonics with a partner or alone. All that's needed is a bag/small bucket and a timer. Here are two minis playing Zinger! R Controlled Vowels.

Amy Lemons always has amazing products. We're currently in love with the Spin On math stations.  I decided to make the stations into file folder games to save on copies. Who knew a paper clip could make math so engaging?

Fluency has been a big focus in the last couple of weeks. Christina DeCarbo has created fluency passages that also help with comprehension.

There are more rotating activities that I'll hopefully blog about later. I'd love suggestions on additional things to add. 

Enjoy the rest of your week!