Standard: 4.RF.4b – Read grade-level prose and poetry orally with accuracy, appropriate rate, and expression on successive readings.
Grade level: Grade 4
Subject: English Language Arts
Domain: Reading: Foundational Skills
Teacher Overview
This standard emphasizes the importance of reading prose and poetry aloud with accuracy, appropriate rate, and expression. Mastering this skill helps students become more fluent readers and enhances their ability to engage with texts meaningfully. It is crucial for developing both reading comprehension and oral communication skills. Students should be comfortable with decoding words and have some experience with reading aloud. They should understand basic punctuation and how it influences reading.
After mastering this standard, students will be better prepared for more complex reading and speaking tasks. They will be able to analyze texts more deeply and communicate their understanding effectively.
Common Misconception 1
Some students may think that reading quickly is the most important aspect of reading aloud. This is incorrect because accuracy is essential for comprehension and for conveying the correct meaning of the text.
Intervention 1
To address this, teachers can use repeated reading strategies, where students practice reading the same text multiple times to build accuracy and confidence before focusing on speed.
Common Misconception 2
Another common misconception is that expression is not important when reading aloud. However, expression helps convey the emotions and intentions of the text, making it more engaging and understandable.
Intervention 2
Teachers can model expressive reading and use activities like reader’s theater to help students practice using expression in their reading.
Prerequisite Knowledge
Students should be able to decode words accurately, understand basic punctuation, and have some experience with reading aloud to an audience.
Subsequent Knowledge
Students will develop the ability to analyze and interpret texts more deeply, improve their public speaking skills, and gain confidence in their oral communication abilities.
Instructional Activities
- Conducting read-aloud sessions where students practice reading prose and poetry with a focus on accuracy, rate, and expression.
- Using reader’s theater scripts to practice expressive reading in a group setting.
- Recording students as they read aloud and playing back the recordings for self-assessment and improvement.
- Pairing students for peer reading sessions where they provide feedback to each other on accuracy and expression.
- Incorporating poetry readings into the classroom routine to regularly practice expressive reading.
