How Should My Child's Reading Sound?
By:  Sherri Chema, Reading Teacher

How should my child's reading sound? In simplest terms, a child's reading should sound like talk. Reading should sound smooth and easy.

We can help our students to "read like talk" by guiding their book selections, by modeling fluent reading and by presenting some guidelines for developing smooth reading.

First, let's discuss book selection. In order for a child's reading to be smooth and easy, the child should be reading a book where he/she is reading with 90% accuracy. The child should not be laboring or having to decode anymore than five words per page. If you should have any questions about book selection, please refer to last month's article in the Hawk Line which was entitled, How to Choose a Book for My Child? If a student has selected an appropriately leveled book, then his/her fluency and phrasing will sound smooth, easy, and natural - just like the way we talk.

Secondly, let's discuss the importance of modeling. As experienced readers, we need to model how reading should sound. Every time that you read aloud to your child, you are modeling how language sounds. This is an excellent way for your child to hear first hand how "reading like talk" sounds.

Thirdly, let's make the reader aware of some guidelines for oral expression, fluency and phrasing. We have included a checklist for good oral reading with appropriate expression, fluency and phrasing. We suggest that the reader tape record himself/herself while reading a paragraph or page. Afterwards, the reader, a buddy or an adult can use the following guidelines to evaluate the oral reading.

PEER-EVALUATION CHECK LIST FOR ORAL READING
Developed by:  Sherri Chema, Reading Teacher, Hunt Valley Elementary

In summary, a child's reading should sound like talk.  Parents can help their child with his/her oral reading by 
guiding book choice, modeling and by creating an awareness of guidelines for good oral expression, fluency and phrasing.  
If you should have further questions, please contact Sherri Chema, Reading Teacher, at (703) 913-8800.
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