Grade Level Readers Workshop

Grade Level Readers Workshop

Kindergarten Readers’ Workshop

Unit: Reading with Expression: Using Punctuation to Enhance Fluency

Revised 2/7/14

Unit Overview / Students will begin to notice and use punctuation to read with fluency.
Unit Goals /
  1. Students will read fluently by noticing and using punctuation. (., ?, !, “”, and speech bubbles)
  2. Students will read with expression by inferring (learning more about the characters) from picture clues and becoming the character.

Unit Notes /
  1. The overarching goal of this unit is for students to be aware of what fluent reading sounds like. This doesn’t mean that students’ fluency has to be dramatic or “perfect.” It really is about showing that they are trying it on.
  2. Students will apply known word-solving strategies to assist in fluency on first read and rereads.
  3. Remember, this reading unit is supporting your “Writing With Expression Using Ending Punctuation” unit.
  4. Depending on your students and the work you have already done in guided reading and modeled reading, you may find that you don’t need the entire amount of time specified for this unit. Feel free to move on.

Resources / The Complete Year, Kindergarten p. 174-176.
Suggested Books:
  • Mo Willems’ books (Piggie & Elephant, The Pigeon books)
  • David Goes to School
  • Daniel’s Pet

Goal # / Teaching Points / Associated CCSS and F & P Strategic Actions
1 / Readers read fluently (smoothly) by looking for and using:
  • Periods .
  • Commas ,
  • Exclamation Marks !
  • Question Marks ?
  • Ellipses …
  • Dialogue Marks “” and Speech Bubbles
**There are no specific lessons for these lessons in your resources.
Lesson Ideas:
You may decide to teach each form of punctuation one day at a time or combine some such as period and exclamation mark. The lessons are really about how we notice and read punctuation by reflecting it in our voices. The use of the example/non-example may be helpful here in the Teach and Active Engagement portions of the mini-lesson.
*Dialogue marks and speech bubbles are really about focusing on recognizing them and thinking: oh, this tells me that a character is talking so I may need to get ready to change my voice a little to sound like the character. It may be important to embed the use of punctuation that is found inside the dialogue and speech bubbles too (that’s really the strategy that helps us sound like the character). See Identification Bullet #3 and Independent Practice Bullet #2 for more ideas. / RF.K.4
Fluency, Searching for & Using, Monitoring & Correcting, Adjusting
2 / Readers read with expression by learning more (inferring) about the characters from clues in the picture.
(See Guided Practice Section Bullets 1 & 2 for some
ideas on how to teach)
Readers read with expression by:
  • Noticing Punctuation
  • Finding Picture Clues
  • Identifying how the character feels
Lesson Idea: Model using all of these strategies (all that we’ve learned in this unit to read with expression). See Identification Section Bullets 1-2 for more ideas.
Remember this unit is about an ‘awareness’ of trying on these strategies so do this lesson as many days as you need based upon your students. / RF.K.4
SL.K.5
SL.K.6
Fluency, Inferring, Monitoring & Correcting, Adjusting
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