Fluency Mini Lesson
Topic: Fluency- Reading with Expression
Level: 2nd Grade
Time: Approximately 15
Learning Target: I can read using expressions based on different emotions.
(This learning target is for students who can read accurately but are still working on reading with expression
still. While this particular lesson is good for 2nd graders, the lesson could be adjusted for 2nd-5th grade. This is
a 2nd grade lesson based on the content and what the students are being asked to say. This lesson will have
students work on saying the same thing in a variety of ways and ending with them choosing which way sounds
best. In class, the students are learning about flowers and the growing process of a flower. We are going to
build sentences around this content area, using transitional words. Before the lesson, the teacher will need to
create 2 piles on notecards, one with different emotions on them such as surprise, sadness, anger, etc. and one
pile that has different simple statements about the process of the flower such as first, plant the seed.)
I do
1. Introduce the lesson
a. Today we are going to work on reading with expression!! Reading with expression is
when you are making your reading interesting and not reading with just one monotone
voice where you make no expression! We’re going to choose one card from this pile,
which will tell us what emotion we’re going to read like and choose one card from the
other pile which is what we will read.
2. Read all of the cards to the students so that they are familiar with what they say
3. Read all of the emotions and work with students on what those emotions might mean, what
facial expressions go with those emotions, and how you could talk with those emotions
4. Model the activity for the students
a. My turn! (Choose a card) Oh I chose sadness emotion. (choose another card) Oh I
chose “then it grows roots” so now I’m going to read this card with a sad emotion “Then
it grows roots” (in a sad voice)
We Do
5. Model again, this time having the students thinking about the emotion and how they would say
it
a. “Now we’re going to do this together- (choose both cards and read them aloud) This
card says “Next it grows!” And this card says “excited.” Show me what your excited face
would be? How would you say this in an excited way? Turn and share with your friend
next to you.
6. Do a couple more examples together
7. Put in groups of 2 and have the groups do a couple more together- listen and observe the
groups as they do it
You Do- (Informal Assessment)
8. After getting some practice in, have the students do this individually. Have the students choose
two cards, have them read the card with a normal voice and then read it with the emotion they
chose. As they read, assess them on their fluency and if they are reading with expression.
Check for their intonation to go up and down as well.
9. Make a connection to reading books at their level
a. “Scholars, you've done great reading with expression! Reading with expression is
something that is going to help you be the best reader you can be. I have a question for
you now. When you’re reading, does the author tell you to “read this with a surprised
voice?” or to “read this with a sad voice?” No!! You have to decide how to read it. Let’s
do some together. This sentence says “Sally lost her dog.” What emotion could you
read this with? Would you read in a happy voice or sad voice? What about “Happy
Birthday Luis!”? What emotion would you read that in?”
10. Make the direct link for the students
a. “Today and every day, make sure that as you are reading you are trying to read with
expression or emotion, just like you did today!”
Differentiation for EL students:
- Have pictures on the “Reading” part of the card as well to visually show what they are reading.
- Have pictures on the “emotions” cards to visually show the emotions
- Have the students share with partners a sentence they might say if they’re feeling nervous, surprised,
angry, etc. This will help them be able to connect the emotions to different sentences.
- Do some echo reading in the “I do” step- where you read in an expression and have the students
imitate you
