T’was the Night Before Christmas

A Fluency Project5th Grade

What is Fluency?

• Accuracy• Pace• Expression• Comprehension

How Can I Improve?

• Tape-check-chart Strategy!• Set a fluency goal, what will you

improve: accuracy, pace, expression, or comprehension?

• How will you improve?– Rereading to yourself– Rereading to a partner– Look up the meaning of unknown words– Practice expression

The Poem

• 56 lines• Stanza, a group of lines in a poem

usually in a reoccurring pattern or rhyme.

The History

• First published anonymously in 1823 as “A Visit from St. Nicholas.”

• In 1844 Clement C. Moore claimed that he was the author.

The Controversy

• Recently scholars including a professor, Don Foster believed that Moore was not the author of the poem.

• Henry Livingston, a poet of Dutch ancestry, is believed by Foster to have written the poem.

     

Prinalgin (2006, November 6). T’was the night before Christmas, Who really wrote it? Retrieved December 5, 2009 from Associated Content website: (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/81092/twas_the_night_before_christmas_who.html?cat=60

The Project

• You are the producers of a digital story! Together we will work cooperatively to illustrate and fluently recite the poem “T’was The Night Before Christmas.”

• The story will be produced into a digital story on a DVD for our families.

Production Preparation

1. Fluency: Tape-Check-Chart Strategy—We’ll use Audacity to record three readings of the poem. After the first check and chart you will set a fluency goal.

2. Select and illustrate a stanza of the poem.

Final Production• Scan original artwork to import into

PhotoStory 3. Be sure to arrange the pictures in order.

• Save once all the illustrations are loaded, save the story in your u-drive folder.

• Recite poem to accompany illustrations using your best and most fluent oral reading.

• Save final digital story to your U-drive. Check back with the teacher to prepare your digital story for burning to a DVD.

How Can I Improve?

• Tape-check-chart Strategy!• Set a fluency goal, what will you

improve: accuracy, pace, expression, or comprehension?

• How will you improve?– Rereading to yourself– Rereading to a partner– Look up the meaning of unknown words– Practice expression

Week 1:• Complete your first reading. (you’ll

record only the first 100 words)• Record your time.• Complete

– the check and chart (in one color) – Underline accuracy errors and – star * any expression or fluency errors.

• Write a goal: I will improve my________by___________.

Week 2:• Complete your second reading. (you’ll

record the entire poem)• Record your time.• Complete

– the check and chart (in one color) – Underline accuracy errors and – star * any expression or fluency errors.

• Write a goal: I will improve my________by___________.

• Practice, then complete a third and final reading.

• Prepare for final production.

Self Assessment

• Using the rubric and checklist, view your digital story.

• Rate your performance and work (fluency and artwork)

Survey

• A student survey posted to her wiki at http://isaacsonscienceteacher.wikispaces.com

• Take the survey.