reading material (one copy for each student in the pair)
timer
graph paper
pencils
All students can benefit from this instructional practice, particularly those that struggle with reading fluently.
Partner Reading is a cooperative learning strategy in which a pair of students work together to read aloud. The Partner Reading strategy allows students to take turns reading and provide each other with positive feedback as a way to monitor comprehension. Partner Reading provides a model of fluent reading and helps students learn decoding skills by offering positive feedback. It provides direct opportunities for a teacher to circulate in the class, observe students, and offer individual remediation.
The use of Partner Reading is an of instructional practice . Instructional Practices are teaching interactions that guide interactions in the classroom.
Before beginning, create pairs within the classroom by identifying which children require help on specific skills and who the most appropriate children are to help other children learn those skills. Select reading material that is at an independent reading level for the more advanced partner and at an instructional level for the second partner. Each student should have their own copy of the reading selection.
Instruct students to read the book aloud for three minutes each, with the more advanced partner reading first as the other follows along.
As the second partner reads the same book, the first student may help the second students decode any unfamiliar words.
Have the students retread the same passage for one minute each, with the more advanced partner reading first. The partner who is not reading times the other student and keeps track of the words read incorrectly.
Each student graphs the number of words read correctly during the one-minute timed reading.
Adaptations
If students are at the same level, they may form their own pairs.
A teacher can also take the place of the first reader for students in need of more support. In this case, the student can chorally "echo" the teacher's fluency.
Armbruster, B., Lehr, F., & Osborn, J. (2001). Put Reading First: The Research Building Blocks for Teaching Children to Read. Center for the Improvement of Early Reading Achievement. National Institute for Literacy. http://www.nifl.gov/partnershipforreading/publications/reading_first1fluency.html
Texas Education Agency. (2002). Fluency: Instructional Guidelines and Student Activities.
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