Podcasting for Reading Fluency

Students will podcast weekly a short high interest piece of literature. Each reading selection should be long enough to get at least a full minute of reading as described in that particular grade level standard for oral reading fluency.

Students will save their podcasts as part of their digital portfolio for the year as well as share them with family. Each week one or two students will be selected as the "Featured Reader" of the week. Their podcasts will be shared on the class website as well as stored on class MP3 players for all students to enjoy..

Students will be able to self evaluate their reading fluency by listening to their podcast. At the end of the year students will be given all of their podcasts on a cd or flash USB drive to take home.

I actually did this with my first grade students this year. It was amazing how my students have soared far above my expectations. The oral reading goal for first grade in our state is 40 words per minute. At the end of this year, my students oral reading fluency ranges between 60 and 120 words correct per minute. They were so excited about podcasting that I did not have to remind them to do it. Parents were also excited to hear their child's podcast as they were the featured reader of the week.