X Marks the Spot – A game to develop reading fluency
How can you help a child improve reading fluency? What can you do to help a child who is in the in-between stage? They have the skills to read “chapter books”, but it is a slow and laborious process, and tiring for them. How can you help them get enough practice to become a fluent and independent reader?
One way is for a parent, or another caring adult, to “trade reading” with them each day, or at least most days. The child reads the first paragraph, or page, of each chapter and the adult reads the rest – whatever combination of reading and listening just pushes the child, they have to work at it, but it is not overwhelming. They get the practice but can still enjoy the story.
Sometimes the child may want the adult to reread their section so they can make sure that they haven’t missed anything in the story while their energy was taken up in just reading the words.
Another way that I have found helpful is to play a game that involves some reading, but it is a small part of an interesting game. I have just pulled out a game that I made up several years ago for a grandson who is just at this stage.
“X Marks the Spot” is a board game that involves collecting tokens (supplies, compass readings, a map, a spade, and skull and crossbones) then sailing to Pirate Island to get the treasure. On each turn, you must give in a supply token and the relevant compass readings (N, S, E, W) for each time you start and change direction on that turn.
If you land on a square with an instruction, you can find the corresponding number and read it in larger print. Some examples: 6 – “Hit a whale. Go back 4 spaces.” 8 – “Find breadfruit on an island. Take 2 extra supply tokens.”
Don’t let your child become a victim of *Stanovich’s Matthew effect where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Developing reading fluency, extending vocabulary and increasing the amount of reading practice are so important for them.
“X Marks the Spot” is from The Gilead Success with Reading Program, Part 2. Feel free to print it out to send home with students for the rapidly approaching school holidays, to use in class, or for your own children. It is free to use and share, but not to sell. Let me know if you find it helpful and if your child enjoys it.
* Stanovich, K E, 1986, Matthew effects in reading: Some consequences of individual differences in the acquisition of literacy, pp 380-382, http://www.keithstanovich.com/Site/Research_on_Reading_files/RRQ86A.pdf
Click on the links below to get each section of the game.
Map Top Left, Map Top Right, Map Bottom Left, Map Bottom Right, X Marks the Spot instructions, Instructions on Squares, tokens, hints, label
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