Learning with Parents Digital Reading Records

EARS

What is EARS?

EARS is a simple way to help children improve their reading fluency, which means reading smoothly, accurately, and with expression. It stands for:

• E: Expression – Reading with feeling and tone, like how you would speak.
• A: Automatic Word Recognition – Knowing words instantly without needing to sound them out.
• R: Rhythm and Phrasing – Reading in natural phrases instead of word by word.
• S: Smoothness – Reading without many pauses or mistakes.

Fluent readers understand and enjoy what they read much more!

How Can You Practice EARS at Home?

Here’s a fun activity for each part of EARS to help your child become a confident, fluent reader:

1. E – Expression:
   "Feel the Mood" Game
   Choose a passage with lots of emotion, such as an exciting, scary, or funny moment in a story. Read it together, and encourage your child to match their tone of voice to the mood of the text. For example, make your voice excited during action scenes or gentle during calm moments. Discuss how the tone changes depending on the text.

2. A – Automatic Word Recognition:
   "Sight Word Snap"
   Use flashcards with common words (or words from your child’s book). Shuffle them and play a game of Snap, where the child quickly says the word when it matches the card in the pile.

3. R – Rhythm and Phrasing:
   "Pause for Punctuation"
   Read a short passage together and focus on pausing for punctuation, like commas and full stops. You can clap or tap every time you reach punctuation to reinforce the natural rhythm of reading.

4. S – Smoothness:
   "Read It Again" Challenge
   Choose a short, fun passage. Have your child read it once, then practice and re-read it two more times, trying to make it smoother each time. Celebrate their improvement by pointing out what they did well.

By practicing these activities at home, you’ll help your child master each part of EARS and develop a love for reading!