Tracking Reading Fluency with Games and a FREEBIE

If you’re like me, then you check off  Dolch words via a standard sheet for each student.  You know the one, the one with columns and rows full of sight words and HFW!  Nothing wrong with it, these kinds of sheets have served me well over many years but…. I wanted, needed a new way of doing things, a way that also integrated fluency!

Year after year I have either highlighted or checked off words that students know.  They would sit beside me and read the words, one by one.

I wanted to be able to still do this but also focus on fluency.  When it comes to reading sight words, common words, or high frequency words (HFW) we want our students to be able to recognize and recall words as quickly as possible. This is known as rate, we need them to also read with accuracy and volume.

I know that children learn best with games, so incorporating a game whilst assessing sight words and HFW knowledge was a no brainer!  Well maybe it isn’t, it’s taken me 14 years to realize it!

The bundle!  you save more than 30% when you purchase the bundle.   It’s great to have for the different reading levels in your class AND for when you move grades!

I have made a set of games for all Dolch words (available as a bundle and also separately, click image above).  I have included all five sets in one bundle;  Track my Reading Fluency Assessment Games: The BUNDLE Pre-Primer to Grade 3

There are six games (see above images) for each level (in color and black and white) with 2 record sheets for students to complete after playing their game(s).

These record sheets are all found in the bundle.

The same format is used for each game.  But how do children play?  How is this focusing on fluency and assessment?  It’s simple, students are timed as they read their Dolch words.  The teacher can do this one on one (it works best this way).  The child can have three turns or if you only have time for one round per session, that’s fine too.

You can use a timer or your iphone to time each round.

A class tracking sheet has also been provided for you to document where everyone else is.

Your students can also test each other by timing each other as they move around the board, they won’t even know they are improving fluency.

You do not have to make this competitive at all, in fact, this is not the objective.  Students work to better their own times over a period of weeks and months.

I have just added the Dolch Tracking Assessment Games and Dolch Word Wall as one COMBO file, to save you a few dollars.

I love using YouTube videos, especially to teach sight words and high frequency words.

Before using our tracking games, you might like to use the playlist I have on YouTube with a range of Dolch videos.   They’re just flash card type of videos but repetition is everything when it comes to learning sight words.   Click on the images to see the playlist on YouTube.

Thanks you to Kimberly Geswein Fonts and Melonheadz Illustrating used in the banners.

To help students learn their core words, you might like to print off the free Dolch word lists for Pre-Primer through to Grade Three.

I like to display the words and I also have copies in my literacy box with my core supplies.  You could send lists home at the beginning of the year.

Oh and the free posters come in both color and black and white.

Click on the image below to download your freebie.

I hope all of these resources go to helping your students learn their Dolch words this year.

For more Dolch resources, see our store category.