Crazy Teaching Idea: TPR meets Reading Fluency

TPR means Total Physical response.

here a re my big ideas:

1. karaoke. It's fun, you get to sing your favorite songs, and it's basically text book variety guided fluency practice. My school already owns gear for whole class instruction using Dance Dance Revolution on the PS2. All we would have to do is purchase a different disk and a microphone and we have a karaoke club!! You show me a talented Karaoke singer and I'll show you a fluent reader.

2. Typewriter basketball.
Materials: laminated sheets of individual alphabet letters, laminated typewriter layouts for keys, dolch or other spelling pattern words on enlarged cards.Three basketball hoops and a few basketballs.

Play:

Beginner: Word Parts
1. teacher recites a word. Baskets are labeled with three different consonant sounds : "B" , "C" , and "D". players must shoot a basket at the correct onset . For example, of the word is "dog", the player to make a basket at the "D" basket first wins a point. If a player makes a shot at the wrong basket, maybe they get a negative point, but hey let's keep this fun, positive, and non-shaming.

2. repeat this with middle and ending sounds. For example, relabel baskets with "ar" , "ir" and "or". If the word is "for" then they have to make a basket at the "or" hoop. Ending sounds would be played much like beginning sounds.

Advanced: Type Word Marathon.

1. Setup: post three different typewriter templates on three different walls underneath each basket. Post word middle parts on backboard or underneath hoop just as in word middle lesson.

2. Play: teacher or "caller" either recites a word or flashes a word on a flashcard at palyers. if they word is "bird", player must slap the letter "B" on the wall, shoot a basket at the "ir" hoop successfully and then run and slap the letter "D." This could lead to LOTS of fun especially for those hyperactive ( "ADHD") learners with lots of energy who refuse to sit still for reading instruction!

3. If this method proves too challenging, you could always put typewriter templates on floor and play it like hopscotch: 1. Step on "B", shoot "ir" , and step on "D".