At the same time, it is often not a good idea to conduct timed reading sessions for challenged readers who struggle with decoding, let alone increasing fluency and reading rate. Such timed reading can be demoralizing for these struggling readers, regardless of their age or grade levels. Self-esteem and any confidence these readers do have decreases significantly as a result. So, why not eliminate the "timed sessions" and substitute a much more approachable option, activities that challenged or reluctant readers might actually embrace and in which they could become truly engaged? We're talking about replacing them with reading games to build fluency and reading rates for your child or students.
In this article, we have collected a basket of links to literacy game resources to help improve these specific reading skills. We hope you will discover at least one or two of them that could provide the catalyst you need to help a challenged reader you know who could use a bit of help with her reading rate and/or fluency. If you know of other literacy games or links that should be added to the list, please let us know by adding a brief not about them in the comment box to follow this article. That way, we will all win---especially the challenged readers out there!
Enjoyable Games & Activities to Build Reading Rate & Fluency
FREE & Fun Reading Games---from Mrs. Bainbridge's Class Website
The online games via this link help practice skills necessary for reading success (phonemic awareness, alphabetic principle, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension). Enjoy and happy gaming!
http://bainbridgeclass.com/readinggames.htm
FREE Fluency Activities---from Readquarium and Diana Dell, Ed.S.
Discover treasure through reading while building fluency and other reading skills!
http://www.gamequarium.com/readquarium/booksonline.html
READING FLUENCY ACTIVITIES---FREE PRINTABLE DOWNLOADS & RESOURCES
The reading fluency activities on this page are essential for children with dyslexia and struggling readers. These activities can be taught in the classroom (small and large group setting) and can also be implemented at home! Keep checking this page for more free printable reading fluency activities and other ways to increase reading fluency!
http://www.readingresource.net/readingfluencyactivities.html
Improving Fluency in Young Readers
Teachers need to select and facilitate the best methods of fluency instruction for their children and their classrooms. The activities listed on this web page promote the 4 components are needed for good fluency instruction: modeling fluent reading, using guided oral reading instruction, providing opportunities to practice and perform, implementing word study activities to build accuracy.
http://www.busyteacherscafe.com/literacy/fluency.html
FREE Online Reading Games---from education.com
These reading games for kids make learning to read even more fun! Play these FREE reading games online to sample the comprehensive learning games program, Brainzy. Get the fun started with these alphabet games, phonics games, sight word games, fluency, reading comprehension games and more!
http://www.education.com/games/reading/
Five Quick Games Build Reading Skills (Pre-K thru Grade 1)---from education world
These 5 small-group or whole-class offline games will engage students as they build a variety of reading skills. games use selections of reading text to build students' skills in syllabication, sentence structure, sequencing, word recognition, skimming, and visual recognition.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/03/lp301-01.shtml
FLUENCY---from Reading A-Z
Motivate students and help them build oral fluency, accuracy, and expression with engaging passages and scripts to read aloud. Includes FREE, downloadable or projectible practice passages (Reading levels F-Z) and reader's theater scripts (K-5). Fluent readers read more quickly and smoothly, allowing them to focus on comprehension. Fluent readers gain more meaning from the text they read. Because fluency leads to comprehension, fluent readers enjoy reading more than students who devote all their energy to sounding out words.
https://www.readinga-z.com/fluency/index.html
Reading Apps, Games and Websites
You'll discover here some of the best apps, games, and websites for building kids' reading skills. Together, these resources cover reading skills from letter recognition, phonics, and sight words to vocabulary building and comprehension. So whether you're on the go or on the couch, start here, and make learning to read fun and engaging. For All ages---Preschoolers (2-4), Little Kids (5-7), Big Kids (8-9), Tweens (10-12) and Teens (13+)
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/reading-apps-games-and-websites
For information on customizable low-tech & digital reading tools to improve focus, fluency & reading rate, please visit:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info and support for struggling readers
314-892-3897
Images courtesy of:
Brennan Innovators, LLC at www.focusandread.com and
lovetoknow Entertainment at http://boardgames.lovetoknow.com/image/50556~Game_pieces.jpg
