Contributor: Morgan Haney. Lesson ID: 13968
When you read out loud, it's like you're performing the story. Practice reading words correctly and explore how to be expressive when you read out loud!
Here are two versions of the same story about Whiskers the cat. Listen to both versions and decide which one you like better.
Although they were the same story, the first version was not very exciting. Adding expression makes listening to a story more fun!
Keep reading!
There are three steps to reading a story.
Before you get started, print out the story you will read.
It is called A Busy Squirrel, and you can find it under Downloadable Resources in the right-hand sidebar.
Step One: Read the Words Right
First, you must get all the words right so that the story makes sense.
If a story says that a princess rode across the sea in a boat, but you read that she rode across the sea on a goat, that doesn't make much sense!
You would be pretty confused! That's why it's important to read the words correctly.
Look at your story A Busy Squirrel, and try to read all the words correctly. If there are any words you don't know, you can sound them out or ask for help. Take as much time as you need to read the story all the way through. Great job! |
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Step Two: Read at the Right Speed
Good question! Step two is to read the story at the right speed.
You might have needed to stop and sound out words in step one. In step two, you are working on reading the story all the way through without pausing to understand words.
Remember, you want to read the story without stopping to sound things out, but you don't want to go so fast that someone listening wouldn't understand you!
Try to read A Busy Squirrel again. This time, read at a steady speed all the way through.
If you must pause because you can't read a word, that's okay! Sound the word out, then go back to the beginning and try to get through the story at a steady speed again.
Wow, awesome job keeping a steady speed!
Step Three: Add Expression
You're on the last step! Step three is to add expression.
That's because it did not use expression like the second version.
Learn how to add expression to your reading as you watch the read-aloud video below for How To Read a Story by Kate Messner.
Using expression makes a big difference in your reading!
Try reading A Busy Squirrel one more time. This time, use expression when you read. Stop at the ends of sentences and pay attention to how you say the story.
Move on to the Got It? section to test your memory of what you've learned.