One of our strategies this term to increase fluency, accuracy and expression in reading is to read to someone and listen to reading. Reading to someone and listening to reading are components of the Daily Five literacy program initiated by Gail Boushey and Joan Moser.

The idea of reading to someone is great because the children have a friend to read and discuss books with as well as increasing:

• the volume of reading
• the attention to reading
• motivation
• fluency
• reading rate
• word-attack skills
• a love of reading

We are at the early stages of this and the children are still developing their skills in listening, encouraging,and asking relevant questions about the passages read.

When you are reading with your child at home, you are also fostering these great skills to become an independent reader!

EEKK-Elbow to Elbow, Knee to Knee. This is how the children are asked to sit. It allows for the children to read quietly and still be heard by their partners and partners can look on and read the book as well.

They may read one page each from the same book, the same page together, read their own book with the partner listening all the while checking for understanding.

During this reading time the children learn to collaborate and be flexible with their partners.