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Lou Ann Nicholas
Title I
Hello,
Welcome to my page! I have been teaching Title I since 1992. I have spent most of my teaching career in the Shinnston area having taught at Shinnston Intermediate, Lumberport Middle and Big Elm. There were 4 years that I spent teaching Title I at Norwood Elementary in Stonewood. I have enjoyed serving the students at all of my schools.
I have especially liked getting to know the families of my students during my Keep In Touch program. This program is offered during the summer months. Traveling around the county to the different homes has given me a vast knowledge of the area.
Another favorite part of my job is working with parents through the various parent involvement activities. Parents who are interested in their children's education are the best advocate a teacher has.
Reading Fluency
Fluency is the ability to read accurately and quickly. When fluent readers read silently, they recognize words automatically. They group words quickly in ways that help them gain meaning from what they have read. Fluent readers read aloud effortlessly and with expression. Their reading sounds natural, as if they are speaking. (Ambruster et al. 2001)
If a student does not need to think about every word, then he or she is able to spend more time attending to the meaning of what is being read. Therefore, he or she is able to better comprehend/understand what is being read.
Ideas to help build reading fluency:
1. Reread books that are appropriate for the child. (book or story the child is reading in class)
2. Give the child 1 minute and see how many words he/she read correctly.
3. Practice reading in phrases. (Phrases such as: to the store, over the hill, down to town)
4. Practice recognizing grade appropriate sight words instantly.
5. Practice reading in different voices. (silly, brave, angry, sad, etc.)
6. Use Echo reading (Parent/teacher reads a phrase expressively and the child repeats or echoes.)
7. Choral Reading (Parent/teacher and child read the words together. Allow the child’s voice to be louder/more prominent.)
8. Provide a variety of reading materials – jokes, magazines, plays, menus etc.)
9. Have older students practice “easy books” that can be read orally to someone younger. Fluency is developed when the child reads material that is below his/her instructional level. (In other words, it is easy for them.)
10. Provide books on tape so students can listen and follow along. Also tape record the child reading and have him/her listen to their own reading.
Remember that a lack of fluency may be caused by poor sight word vocabulary, insufficient practice, the inability to “sound out” unknown words or apply the strategies for figuring out unknown words.
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