Words to Fluency

Strategy Corner

Helping students become fluent readers is often impacted by their ability to recognize high-frequency words. A goal for bringing words to fluency is for students to remember words in every detail and help students apply what they know about these words to help them get into and solve unknown words as they read and write them. Presenting words through a variety of tasks helps students use different modalities to learn these words in every detail. Here are some quick ways for students to practice these words:

  • Write the word in the center of a white board or paper saying each letter as they write.
  • Write the word again in the upper left hand corner of the board or paper saying each letter as they write.
  • Write it again in each corner while saying each letter.
  • When you’ve written it five times, draw a fence around the word. Start at the top-left side of the word and draw a line around each letter of the word making straight lines left to right and up and down around each letter. At the end of the word draw a line to the bottom of the word and make straight lines right to left and up and down around each letter to the beginning of the word and then close the gate by drawing a line back up to the top-left side of the word. (This will teach students the shape of the word—configuration.)
  • Erase the slate, write the word fast. Write it again faster.
  • Write the word in the air.
  • Find a partner and take turns writing the word on each other’s back. As your partner writes the word on your back, write the word in the air.
  • Cheerlead the word: Have students stand up, say the word and then as they spell the word, have students put their hands on their hips for short letters, raise their hands above their heads for tall letters and reach down toward their toes for letters that go below the line. (i.e.: p-l-a-y Students would reach down as they say “p,” reach up as they say “l,” put their hands on their hips as they say “a,” and reach down as they say “y.” Repeat the word. Then cheerlead the word again repeating the procedure. Do this three or four times.)
  • Using magnetic letters, have students unscramble letters to spell a word. Mix the letters back up and have them unscramble the letters again.
  • Have words on flash cards. Play “My Pile, Your Pile” by flashing the words to student. Any word they recognize at sight goes to the student and any word not recognized at sight goes to the teacher/partner.
  • Using highlighter tape, have students underline high-frequency words in text.
  • Give students many opportunities to read and reread words in text. (Reader’s theatre, repeated readings, partner reading, paired or buddy reading, etc.)
By Marilyn Eberle - Davenport Reading Specialist & Reading Recovery Teacher, Mississippi Bend Reading Council
Iowa Reading Association Newsletter, May/June 2004
All Resources