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Assign different characters from a simple play script to students. Have them practice their parts focusing on expression and appropriate reading pace. After practice time, students perform for the class. This helps develop expressive reading and natural pacing.

Tip: Start with short, simple scripts and gradually increase complexity. Consider using familiar fairy tales adapted for Reader's Theater.

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Pair students up and provide each pair with a grade-appropriate poem. Partners practice reading the poem together, focusing on rhythm, expression, and appropriate pace. They can take turns reading different stanzas or read in unison. After practice time, pairs perform for the class.

Extension: Have students add simple hand motions or movements to enhance expression.

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Create a visual 'race track' on a bulletin board. Students track their reading speed progress with car cutouts moving along the track. Each student practices reading the same short passage multiple times, trying to improve their speed while maintaining accuracy. Mark improvements on the track to celebrate progress.

Note: Emphasize that the goal is smooth, accurate reading, not just speed.

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Form a circle with students. Teacher reads a sentence with appropriate expression and pacing, then students echo the same sentence, mimicking the expression. Use different voices (excited, curious, sad) to make it engaging and demonstrate various forms of expression.

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Use 'fluency phones' (made from PVC pipes or purchased) for students to hear themselves read. Students read independently into their fluency phones, focusing on pace and expression. This helps them become more aware of their own reading voice and expression.

Tip: Create stations where some students use fluency phones while others do partner reading.

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Have students record themselves reading a short passage, then listen to their recording and self-evaluate their fluency using a simple rubric. Focus on expression, pace, and smoothness. Students can set personal goals for improvement based on their reflection.

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Select short passages with different moods (happy, scary, mysterious). Students practice reading these passages with appropriate expression and pace to match the mood. Add background music that matches the mood to help students understand how tone and pace can change based on the story's feeling.

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Create an activity where students read sentences with different punctuation marks, emphasizing how punctuation affects expression and pace. For example, practice how a period, question mark, or exclamation point changes how we read. Use exaggerated expressions to make it fun and memorable.

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Iowa Reading Research Center - The University of Iowa

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Reader's Theatre Scripts

These scripts can be used for reader's theatre, which is an interpretive performance of a dramatic piece. The scripts include roles for 6-8 readers and lists of potentially unfamiliar vocabulary words. Some scripts also feature a list of idiomatic or colloquial expressions used within the piece, which teachers and caregivers can pre-teach, especially for bilingual students.

Reader's theatre can be used to teach and practice reading fluency. Read our blog post on reader's theatre for more information.
Grades K-2 Reader's Theatre Scripts Grades 3-5 Reader's Theatre Scripts

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Set up a 'news desk' in the classroom where students take turns being news anchors, reading short news articles written at their reading level. Focus on clear expression, appropriate pace, and professional delivery. Can be recorded for extra engagement and review.

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Select engaging texts with repetitive phrases or refrains. The whole class reads together, following the teacher's pace and expression. This helps struggling readers gain confidence while practicing fluency in a supportive environment.

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Create cards with different expressions written on them (excited, scared, worried, happy). Students draw a card and read a short passage using that expression. Partners guess which expression card was drawn. This helps students understand how to modify their voice for different emotions.

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Create cards with high-frequency phrases. Students practice reading these phrases quickly and smoothly. Can be used in pairs or small groups as a flash card activity. Focus on reading phrases as units rather than individual words to improve natural pacing.