Effects of Repeated Reading and Rhyming Poetry on Reading Fluency

Abstract

This study tested two instructional methods meant to improve elementary students' automaticity, phonemic awareness, oral fluency, and reading comprehension. Twelve 1 st grade students received either repeated reading or rhyming poetry instruction. A matched group design was used, and then a single subject analysis was employed to determine if either of the methods was associated with improvements in students' reading achievement, oral reading fluency, and attitudes towards reading. Findings indicated that students who experienced the rhyming poetry intervention tended to show greater improvements in reading comprehension and oral reading fluency, while those exposed to repeated reading showed mixed results. Students from both conditions showed similar improvements in attitude toward reading, though those in the rhyming poetry group showed slightly more improvement in the area. Overall results suggest that both methods may be beneficial to students' reading but that rhyming poetry instruction may have greater potential for students at this level.

Playing with Words: Scaffolding Writing through Poetry

“…By reading and writing poetry, students receive multifaceted support in their literacy development, thus it is vital that the reading and writing of the genre is occurring regularly and in reciprocity with each other. By reading poems aloud, performing poetry, and reciting their own original poems, students develop oral language and fluency (Certo, 2018;Rasinksi et al, 2016;Zavala & Cuevas, 2019). In fact, Rasinksi et al (2016) found evidence supporting the genre and its ability to "improve the foundational reading outcomes (word recognition accuracy, automatic, and prosody) for students, especially for those who struggle in achieving success in reading achievement due to a lack of foundational competencies" (p. 173).…”

“…The genre of poetry is the most suitable genre for playing with words because it is “the most amenable to creative and playful exploitation of the potentialities of language” (Myhill, 2013, p. 49). As a result, the genre of poetry positively impacts multiple aspects of a child's literacy development, including foundational skills (Harper, 2011; Rasinksi et al., 2016; Zavala & Cuevas, 2019), composition and craft (Vanderwater, 2018), and comprehension (Rasinksi et al., 2016; Zavala & Cuevas, 2019). The creativity and playfulness that exists within the genre is inviting all learners.…”

“…By reading poems aloud, performing poetry, and reciting their own original poems, students develop oral language and fluency (Certo, 2018; Rasinksi et al., 2016; Zavala & Cuevas, 2019). In fact, Rasinksi et al.…”