Reading With Expression and Fluency - Grades 3-4

Expression is so important because it helps a reader comprehend and retain what he or she just read. Some of the most important components of expressive reading are fluency, vocal inflection, tone, tempo, and body language.

Expression is also very important in public speaking. When you have something to say, research shows the tone of your voice makes up 38% of the impact of the message you are trying to communicate, and body language makes up a whopping 55%!

Get your students to become strong readers, and public speakers by following the activities in this pack.

There are four reading skills to be practised in this kit to help coach an expressive and fluent reader and speaker.
1. Chunk phrases and use punctuation.
2. Work on fluency.
3. Work on intonation.
4. Say it like the character or live reader would.

Within each skill, there are four stages of teaching based on the Gradual Release of Responsibility Model. Your class can be divided into the four groups respectively according to ability/level/readiness.
Focus Lesson (I Do, You Watch)
Guided Instruction (I Do, You Do too)
Collaborative Learning (You Do with Others and I watch)
Independent Learning (You Do on your Own and others watch)

Included are: mini posters, a RUBRIC, and several texts to practice on.
Watch your students COME ALIVE in their reading expression and ability to transfer that to a public speaking context. Happy teaching!

Australian Curriculum Links
Year 3 ENGLISH: Literacy/Interacting With Others
-Plan and deliver short presentations (ACELY1677)
-Use interaction skills, including communicating in a clear, coherent manner using a variety of everyday and learned vocabulary and appropriate tone, pace, pitch and volume (ACELY1792)

Year 4 ENGLISH:
Literacy/Interpreting, Analysing, Evaluating
-Reading aloud with fluency and expression (ACELY1691)