Poetry & Fluency

We have just begun to learn about reading fluency in our class.  Fluency is when readers decode text accurately and effortlessly with appropriate rate, volume, phrasing, intonation, and expression.  Basically, good readers sound like they're talking to you.  "Keep a Poem in your Pocket" was a fantastic poem for practicing the first of these skills.  The students asked if we could invite Mr. Jameson to hear us recite, so I recorded it for everyone on the blog to hear, as well.  Mr. Jameson sent our class this email: 

Ms. Mallett's Class,
Thank you for letting me come in and listen to your poem. I loved how expressive you all were. The hand signals were also fun to watch and helped me understand the poem. Thanks for the invite. You really made my day!

Mr. Jameson

Keep a Poem in Your Pocket

By Beatrice Schenk de Regniers

Keep a poem in your pocket

And a picture in your head

And you'll never feel lonely

At night when you're in bed

The little poem will sing to you

The little picture bring to you

A dozen dreams to dance to you

At night when you're in bed

So . . .

Keep a picture in your pocket

And a poem in your head

And you'll never feel lonely

At night when you're in bed