Fluency Check-Up: Putting It All Together

Combine phrasing, punctuation, expression, and pace in one reading.

Now you can combine every fluency skill in a single reading. Before reading aloud, preview the passage: spot tricky words, find the dialogue tags, notice the end marks, and decide the mood. Then read in phrases at a natural pace. Here's a passage to practice: 'Pia raced to the window. Snow! Real snow, piled high on every fence. 'Wake up,' she whispered to her brother, 'it finally happened.

' He rolled over. 'What happened? ' he mumbled. ' Plan it: 'Snow! ' is an excited exclamation. 'Whispered' means Pia's line is soft but thrilled. Her brother's question rises at the end and sounds sleepy because he 'mumbled'. The scene is joyful. After reading, ask yourself: Was I accurate? Was my pace natural? Did my voice match the meaning? Then reread to improve one thing.

• 1Preview words, tags, end marks, and mood before reading.
• 2Read in phrases at a natural pace.
• 3Check yourself afterward and improve one thing.