Print via your browser’s print dialog (Ctrl/Cmd + P). This worksheet supports repeated reading and gentle fluency growth.
Learning intention & success criteria
Start here
Learning intention
Today I am learning to
read a short passage about nature and animals smoothly, with accurate words, steady pace and expression
.
Success criteria
I can:
- read most words correctly on the first try,
- keep my voice flowing in phrases instead of stopping every word,
- use my voice to show punctuation and feeling (full stops, commas, questions).
In my own words, today I am learning to…
Fluency warm-up
Words & phrases
1. Read the words (3 times). Try to be a little smoother each time.
(Tutor/parent: tick and time if you’d like.)
- forest creek branches feather whiskers
- rustle sunset shadows paws wings
|
Read 1 |
Read 2 |
Read 3 |
| Time (optional) |
______ s |
______ s |
______ s |
| How smooth? |
🙂 / 😐 / 😴 |
🙂 / 😐 / 😴 |
🙂 / 😐 / 😴 |
2. Read the phrases. Slide your voice through the whole phrase.
- the soft rustle of leaves
- a bird resting on a branch
- tiny paws at the water’s edge
- the creek shining in the sun
Circle how your reading felt today: 😊 smooth 😐 sometimes bumpy 🙁 very bumpy
Fluency passage 1 – The creek behind the gum tree
Nature
Read this passage aloud. Then read it again two more times. Try to keep your voice flowing, not too fast and not too slow.
Behind the old gum tree, a narrow creek slid quietly over the rocks. A tiny
grey bird watched from a low branch. The water sparkled as the morning
sun climbed higher in the sky. A blue dragonfly hovered just above the
surface, its wings shining like glass. Now and then, a leaf landed in the
water and floated gently past. The bird tilted its head and listened to the
soft splashes and rustling leaves. Everything around the creek seemed calm
and awake at the same time.
Tutor tip: Model one read first if needed, then let the student try.
Fluency tracking – Passage 1
We notice
After each read, pause and record how it went.
|
Read 1 |
Read 2 |
Read 3 |
| Time (seconds) |
______ |
______ |
______ |
| Did I keep going when I got stuck? |
Yes / No |
Yes / No |
Yes / No |
| My reading felt… |
😊 / 😐 / 🙁 |
😊 / 😐 / 🙁 |
😊 / 😐 / 🙁 |
What changed between your first and third read?
Fluency passage 2 – Night visitors
Animals
Now read this passage about animals that are awake at night. Remember: smooth and steady is more important than fast.
As the sky grew darker, the backyard slowly changed. The bright flowers
closed their petals, and the noisy lorikeets flew away to roost. In the
quiet that followed, a soft scratching sound came from under the fence.
A small possum climbed carefully along the top rail, its tail curled for
balance. Moths fluttered around the porch light like tiny paper planes.
From a tall tree, an owl blinked its wide eyes and watched the garden
below. While most people were getting ready for bed, the night animals
were just beginning their busy work.
Optional: Tutor models one sentence, student echoes, then reads the whole passage.
Fluency tracking – Passage 2
We notice
Read the passage 2–3 times. After each read, fill in the table.
|
Read 1 |
Read 2 |
Read 3 (optional) |
| Time (seconds) |
______ |
______ |
______ |
| I followed punctuation (stopped at full stops, paused at commas) |
Yes / No |
Yes / No |
Yes / No |
| I used expression (my voice changed when something exciting happened) |
Yes / No |
Yes / No |
Yes / No |
Check your understanding
Quick questions
Answer in full sentences where you can.
-
Literal: What animal climbed carefully along the fence?
-
Literal: Where was the owl, and what was it doing?
-
Vocabulary in context: The moths are compared to “tiny paper planes”. What does this tell you about how they moved?
-
Inferential: Why do you think the author says “the night animals were just beginning their busy work”?
Reflection
Check-in
How do I feel about my reading today?
One thing I did well:
One thing I want to practise next time:
Answer key & support notes — For parents & tutors
How to use this fluency worksheet
- Focus on smoothness first, speed second. If accuracy drops, slow back down.
- Model, then echo. Read one sentence or paragraph aloud, then have your child echo your phrasing.
- Use 2–3 reads per passage. The goal is to notice that later reads feel easier and more confident.
- Celebrate small wins. Praise things like “You didn’t give up on that tricky word” or “I heard your voice flow more this time.”
- Timing is optional. It can be helpful data, but improve comfort and expression before worrying about speed.
Comprehension answers – Passage 2 (Night visitors)
-
What animal climbed carefully along the fence?
A small possum climbed carefully along the top rail of the fence.
-
Where was the owl, and what was it doing?
The owl was in a tall tree. It was blinking its wide eyes and watching the garden below.
-
Moths compared to “tiny paper planes” – what does this tell us?
It suggests the moths were fluttering, gliding and looping gently around the light, not flying in straight, fast lines.
-
Why are the night animals “just beginning their busy work”?
Because many night animals (like possums, moths and owls) are awake and active at night. They come out to search for food, explore and move around while people are going to sleep.
Fluency observations
There are no fixed “correct” times for these passages; each child’s pace is different. Look for changes such as:
- later reads taking slightly less time without rushing or losing accuracy,
- fewer word-by-word stops and more phrase-level reading,
- clearer attention to punctuation (full stops, commas, questions),
- increased confidence and willingness to reread.
Over several sessions, you might track the total time for Read 1 vs. Read 3 on new passages and notice gentle improvement.
Materials suggestions
- Simple timer (phone, watch or sand timer)
- Pencil or highlighter (to mark phrases or punctuation)
- Quiet space with minimal distractions