You can blend sounds into words now. Ben can too, and he is reading a whole book. The first time, he reads slowly and stops a lot.
Ben reads the same book again. What happens the second time?
Read aloud books matched to phonic ability accurately and with growing fluency; reread familiar texts to build confidence, speed, and expression
You can already sound out words. You know many words by sight. Now it is time to read smoothly, like talking.
Ben reads his book the first time. He reads slow and stops a lot. He reads it again. Now it sounds like a story. He reads it to his dog.
Read your favorite book again and again. Each time gets smoother and faster.
Use your voice when you read. Make it sound happy, sad, or excited. Match your voice to the story.
If a word sounds wrong, stop and try again. Getting most words right helps the story make sense.
Punctuation marks are little signs for your voice. A period says: stop and take a breath. A question mark says: let your voice go up, like you are asking. Do not race past the signs. Read like you talk.
Fluent reading is fast, smooth, and sounds like telling a story.
Words are made of sounds. One sound is the short u, like the u in sun, bug, and cup.
Grown-ups can read a story out loud to you. Listen for words with the short u sound. When you hear one, smile or tap your knee.
Then it is your turn. Open a book that is just right for you. Read it out loud slowly. When you see a word with u in the middle, like fun or mud, say the short u sound first. Then say the whole word.
Did you get stuck on a word? That is okay. Say each sound, one at a time. Then blend the sounds together.
Now read the same page again. This time, go a little faster. Make your voice sound happy or sad to match the story. Each time you reread, the words get easier.
You can blend sounds into words now. Ben can too, and he is reading a whole book. The first time, he reads slowly and stops a lot.
Ben reads the same book again. What happens the second time?
24 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.