Oral Close is appropriate for individual, small group, or whole class instruction. The purpose is to offer additional modeling with a gradual shift to student reading.
Use this strategy to introduce a new story or text. Do not use the strategy for an entire story or chapter. Alternate Oral Close with other strategies to avoid loss of interest.
1. Sit close enough to a small group of students to be able to gently tap each one on his arm.
2. Read orally, then suddenly stop and touch a student.
3. The student who is touched must supply the
next word (only one word).
4. Continue to read, stop, and touch another student who supplies
the next missing word.
If you touch a student and he does not know the "place" or cannot say the word, simply say the word or go to another student. No lecture is needed.
Echo Reading is an additional modeling strategy which offers an unsuccessful reader an opportunity to hear, see, and read the print while letting one or two fingers flow under the words.
1. Read one sentence, using expression and proper phrasing.
2. A student "echoes" the same sentence back.
3. Continue, one sentence at a time, selecting a different student for each sentence.