Fluency Practice with

Poetry
Book Talk by Nicole Zimmerman

Phonics and Fluency Practice with Poetry:

Tapping the Power of Rhyming Verse to Improve Students Word Recognition,
Automaticity, and Prosodyand Help Them Become Successful Readers

By Timothy V. Rasinski, William H. Rupley, and William Dee Nichols

Pros and Cons

Pros

Cons

appropriate for K-5, but doesnt discuss how to change for different
grade levels; general beginner vs advanced distinctions are made for
poetry examples, but specific grade levels are not addressed

though activities can be modified, this resource focuses only on the

elementary level (not pre-K or grades 6-12)

strategies incorporate fluency and poetry in fun, engaging ways

very concise for busy teachers

practical and specific, with many examples and additional resources

step by step plans and explanations for how to carry out strategies

plans leave room to be modified based on students' needs and

examples of modifications are given

shows how multiple skills can be addressed together and are

interwoven (addresses fluency, phonics, word study, comprehension)

strategies seem realistic to implement

gives thorough rationale for explicitly teaching fluency

because the activities encompass more than just fluency, it does not
delve as deeply into just fluency

sounding out is mentioned a lot (as opposed to other more current

ways of referring to this accuracy strategy, like stretching out the
sounds)

Why use Poetry to Teach Fluency?

Poetry (including nursery rhymes, songs, chants, and cheers)

contains predictable, controlled, yet challenging vocabulary

offers beautiful and evocative language

shows how word choice and arrangement are used to create emotional effect

requires the reader to focus on the language itself

introduces children to the musical quality of language

lets readers and listeners get hooked on repetitive words and phrases

encourages multisensory responses (such as clapping, singing, dancing/moving, etc.)

can give students immediate success and confidence in literacy activities

connects reading and writing

Poetry naturally invites oral reading and encourages performance which promotes rehearsal,
and practice is the key to fluency. If we frame practice as a rehearsal for a performance, we
can move away from rote repetitious activities and let students have fun with fluency!

Daily Poems
Peter, Peter, Pizza-Eater
Peter, Peter, pizza-eater,
How I wish that you were neater.
Half the pizzas on your shirt.
Clean the mess, or no dessert.

Giggle Poetry.com - Text Bruce Lansky, reprinted from

Peter, Peter, Pizza-Eater and Other Silly Rhymes, published by Meadowbrook Press.

Daily Poems
Hickory, Dickory, Dock
Hickory, dickory, dock,
a mouse jumped in my sock.
He wiggled his nose
and tickled my toes,
which gave me quite a shock!

GigglePoetry.com - Text Jeffery Goodson, reprinted from Mary Had a Little Jam
published by Meadowbrook Press.

Daily Poems
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Row, row, row your boat,
gently down the stream,
until you hit the waterfall
then youll start to scream.

GigglePoetry.com - Text Bill Dodds, reprinted from

A Bad Case of the Giggles published by Meadowbrook Press.

Poetry Parodies

Parody poems are poems or songs that are based on the

structure of an already familiar poem or song, but some
words are changed to create a new or silly version.

Move beyond memorization and rote repetition

Create the need to actually read the words of poems and

songs they already know students can feel successful,
but are still challenged

Promote writing connection since they are so easy for

students to create!

Function Word Deletion Activity

Function words are the high-frequency words that are

crucial in most every text (the, is, for, in, to, and, are,
etc.). These words can also be called glue words because
they hold the text together. So

Can we be fluent when the glue words are gone?

Function Word Deletion Activity

Round 1 Steps:

Round 1 / Round 2

1.

Arrange your words in order

2.

Practice reading the poem aloud with your

fluency phone

Line 1 Poetry

is

3.

Read your poem aloud to the group

Line 2 Poetry

is

4.

Discuss

Line 3 Poetry

is

Round 2 Steps:

Line 4 Poetry

is

5.

Insert your function words so each line

makes sense

6.

Practice reading the poem aloud with your

fluency phone

7.

Read your poem aloud to the group (Go in

order A, B, C)

8.

Discuss

Function Word Deletion Activity

My Teacher Loves Her iPod

My teacher loves her iPod.

Its always in her ear.
She doesnt mind it if we joke
or chat cause she cant hear
If we dont pay attention,
she doesnt seem to care.
Whenever she has music on,
she wears a distant stare.
Our principal dropped by one day,
and she paid no attention.
He took away her iPod,
and he sent her to detention.

GigglePoetry.com - Text Bruce Lansky, reprinted from

My Teachers in Detention published Meadowbrook Press. Illustration

Function Word Deletion Activity

What did you notice?

This activity is multifaceted because it is a word work activity that

requires students to practice comprehension skills, accuracy skills,
and fluency skills!

References:

Rasinski, T. V., Rupley, W. H., & Nichols, W. D. (2012). Phonics & Fluency
Practice with Poetry: Tapping the Power of Rhyming Verse to Improve
Students Word Recognition, Automaticity, and Prosody---and Help Them
Become Successful Readers. New York City, New York: Scholastic Teaching
Resources.

GigglePoetry.com (Bruce Lanskys website)

Any Questions?

Thank You!
Enjoy the rest of the presentation!