Fluency:

earing
unctuation
.?. ,
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By Kristina Smekens
w. s m e k e n s e d u c at i o n . co m
©2006 Smekens Education Solutions, Inc. • Hearing Punctuation 1
©2006 Smekens Education Solutions, Inc.
 Overview
Fluency instruction includes more than reading rate and expression. Students
need explicit instruction and practice on phrasing. They need to learn how to
break sentences into word groupings and attend to punctuation marks when
reading. Weak readers tend to read right through punctuation marks, never
stopping, pausing, or taking a breath. This makes for a very confusing reading.

10 lessons to target fluency

1. Point out how a reader’s voice and 7. Assign students to read aloud their
fluency are affected when sentences own previous writings, editing for
end with different punctuation appropriate endmark usage.
marks. (See p3.)
8. Review the chart started in Lesson
2. Eliminating the skill of decoding #1. Add additional grade-level-
phonics, reveal various “alphabet appropriate punctuation marks.
passages” for students to choral Discuss how the reader’s voice is
read. (See p4.) affected by each. (See p7.)

3. Following the same premise set in 9. Move beyond short, simple

lesson #2, create “number passages” sentences to practicing fluency and
for students to choral read. (See p5.) punctuation reading with poems.
Find poems that utilize lots of
4. For added practice, create “number punctuation and lend themselves to
passages” that target various math fascinating choral readings.
facts. (See p6.)
10. Assign students to read aloud
Aligned with CCSS: 5. Students create own “alphabet and their own previous writings, editing
RF.1.1a Recognize
the distinguishing
number passages” to be read aloud for appropriate punctuation marks
features of a sentence by peers. within the sentence (e.g., commas,
(e.g., first word, parentheses, semi-colons, ellipses,
capitalization, ending 6. Break the class into two groups quotation marks, etc.) and at the
punctuation). and read aloud the picture book end of the sentence (e.g., periods,
RF.1-2.4b Read on-level Yo! Yes? by Chris Raschka. (Half exclamation marks, question marks).
text orally with
accuracy, appropriate
the class reads the voice of the
rate, and expression character on the left-hand pages.
on successive Half the class reads the voice of the
readings. character on the right-hand pages.)
RF.3-5.4b Read on-level The entire story is written in a series
prose and poetry of short sentences with powerful
orally with accuracy,
appropriate rate,
punctuation marks.
and expression on
successive readings.

©2006 Smekens Education Solutions, Inc. • Hearing Punctuation 2

Hearing Punctuation

Mark voice EXample

. STOPS
Basketball is a contact sport.

Bats and elephants are mammals.

Owls and geese are birds.

? GOES UP
What is your favorite food?

You stayed up all night?

She’s coming! Hide before we

ruin the surprise!

! GETS LOUD I made five baskets in a row!

Help! My foot is stuck!

©2006 Smekens Education Solutions, Inc. • Hearing Punctuation 3

Alphabet Passage
ABC?
DEFG.
H!
I, J, and K.
L?
MN?
OP, and QR.
STU!
V?
WXY.
Z!
©2006 Smekens Education Solutions, Inc. • Hearing Punctuation 4
Number Passage

123?
45.
6789.
10?
11, 12, 13, 14, and 15.
16!
17!
18?

©2006 Smekens Education Solutions, Inc. • Hearing Punctuation 5

Math-Facts Passage

3 6 9?
12 15.
18 21 24.
27?
30?
33!
36.

©2006 Smekens Education Solutions, Inc. • Hearing Punctuation 6

Hearing Punctuation
Mark voice EXample
. Stops Basketball is a contact sport.

? Goes up
What is your favorite food?
You stayed up all night?

She’s coming! Hide before we ruin the

!
surprise!
Gets loud I made five baskets in a row!
Help! My foot is stuck!

, Pauses
Kevin collects stamps, baseball cards,
and comic books.

“ ”
“Don’t dillydally all day,” said the old
Sounds like the character woman.

... Drifts off

“I... I can’t believe... Did I really win?”
asked the girl.

— Stops abruptly, then reads

remaining text quickly
This heat— 108 degrees— is
unbearable.

( ) Whisper to the reader

The Wagner Playground (also known
as the tire-swing playground) is on East
Street.

italics “You ate that?” gasped Joe.

boldface Stresses or emphasizes

“Ouch! I’ve been stung by a bee!”
“The ball goes in the hoop, not over it,”
underline these words sneered Rick.
ALL CAPS “HIP, HIP, HOORAY!” they shouted.

©2006 Smekens Education Solutions, Inc. • Hearing Punctuation 7

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