Account
Contact
Search 
181

Reading with Expression: 5 Teaching Tips and a Free Printable

If you’re looking for some great ways to teach your child to read with expression, you’ve come to the right place! Read on to download a fun printable activity and then read our top five tips.

Let’s start with “Round Up the Sheep.” It’s a great way to start practicing expressive reading!

Download Round Up the Sheep

Sometimes the same words can take on a completely different meaning if you say them with a different expression. For example, if you’re afraid of cats, you would use a frightened voice to say, “Look! A cat!” But if you love cats, you would use a happy, excited voice to say, “Look, a cat!” This activity is a fun way to practice this concept.

Preparing the “Round Up the Sheep” Activity

  1. Download the “Round Up the Sheep” Activity.
  2. Print and cut out the sheep cards, following the instructions in the activity download.
  3. Place the cards in a pile with the sheep facing up.
  4. Now let’s practice reading with expression!

Play “Round Up the Sheep”

Have your child choose a card from the pile. The word printed above the sheep indicates the expression with which your child should read the sentence on the back of the card.

A child's hand holding a game piece

Now have your child flip the card over to read the sentence using the indicated expression.

The back of a game piece

Continue until all the cards have been read.

Game pieces on a table

5 More Ways to Teach Kids to Read with Expression

7 Ways to Make Spelling Logical - from All About Spelling

Have Fun with Emojis

Can you read this sentence—“I miss the smell of ham,” said Dan—like an angry emoji would? Download Fun with Emojis and have a ton of fun reading like an emoji in this somewhat “emotional” activity!

7 Ways to Make Spelling Logical - from All About Spelling

Model Expressive Reading

One of the very best ways to help your little robot improve his reading is to model expressive reading while reading aloud to your children. Need picture book ideas? We’ve got you covered! Download our Picture Book Library Lists.

Read Decodable Books

Decodable books like the ones used in All About Reading feature stories that flow easily and naturally, allowing beginning readers to read more smoothly and comprehend text more easily.

7 Ways to Make Spelling Logical - from All About Spelling

Use Buddy Reading

Also called partner reading or paired reading, buddy reading is a great way to model reading for your child, allowing him to hear and imitate expressive reading. Learn more in this Buddy Reading article.

7 Ways to Make Spelling Logical - from All About Spelling

Encourage Reading Fluency

Does your child read like a robot? This post is chock full of valuable tips that will help your child read with meaningful expression. Explore topics like decoding skills, reading vocabulary, phrasing, and character dialogue.

Have you discovered a great way to encourage expressive reading? I would love to hear about it in the comments below.

Share This:

< Previous Post  Next Post >

Leave a Reply

Valerie Armentrout

says:

For my kids, their reading has gained more expression as they mature. We read at least 1 chapter from a fun, character driven book at bedtime each night. My husband and I take turns, so the kids get to hear styles from different personalities/perspectives.

Robin

says: Customer Service

Good point, Valerie. Reading expression does improve with maturity and improved reading. It’s wonderful that your children get the benefit of hearing you and husband’s reading expression too!

Kori Villegas

says:

My daughter wants to get into theater so this will help her with that too!!! Thank you for this!

Robin

says: Customer Service

You’re welcome, Kori. I think this activity will be an excellent acting warm up activity!

Meagan Marazzo

says:

This was a fun exercise! The kids were asking for more words to practice on!

Robin

says: Customer Service

Thank you for letting us know that your kids liked this activity so much they asked for more, Meagan!

Phyllis

says:

This is awesome. I found out about these strategies through Texas Reading Academy for teachers. I plan to use the tips presented on this blog. I would love ❤️ to learn more.

Robin

says: Customer Service

Phyllis,
We have a lot available on our blog and website. You may wish to sign up for our weekly email newsletter as well, so that you don’t miss anything.

Sam McCormick

says:

So helpful!!

Robin

says: Customer Service

I’m glad this was helpful, Sam!

Lauryn

says:

Fun idea!

Robin

says: Customer Service

Thanks, Lauryn!

Jen

says:

It will be fun to try this. I love reading with emotion and expression but my kiddo is just starting out and isn’t there yet.

Robin E.

says: Customer Service

I hope you and your kiddo have a lot of fun with these activities, Jen!

Isobel Gillian Ball

says:

Absolutely knockout ideas! Thank you. You are great!

Robin E.

says: Customer Service

You’re so welcome, Isobel! And thank you!

Stacey Meyer

says:

I cannot wait to try this activity :-)

Robin E.

says: Customer Service

I hope you have a lot of fun with it, Stacey!

Barbara Carroll

says:

I really like this!
Thanks!

Robin E.

says: Customer Service

You’re welcome!

Jani Hafez

says:

Always need new ideas! Thanks

Robin E.

says: Customer Service

You’re welcome, Jani!

Sonal

says:

This is great

Marilyn Fuqua

says:

Great ideas! Thanks

Jeanine

says:

Great idea. Thank you!

Brooke Welch

says:

Thank you ♡

Mckenzie

says:

Great help with my grandaughter when she visits us. Thanks.

Minal lalwani

says:

Kindly let me know how to purchase these.

Robin E.

says: Customer Service

Minal,
You will find our products available in our webstore All About Learning Press.

Minal lalwani

says:

Fantastic..I am impressed.Rgis really helped

Jill

says:

This is a fun idea. Thanks!

Robin E.

says: Customer Service

You’re welcome, Jill!

Stacy

says:

We love all the activities at our house! I will definitely be printing these to use. My kiddo will love this. He already loves reading his practice sheets with emojis!

Chandra Permann

says:

I’m looking forward to the round to the sheep activity and the practice and learning opportunity it will provide in a fun way!

Robin E.

says: Customer Service

I hope you and your student(s) have a lot of fun with this activity, Chandra.

Esme

says:

These are some fun, engaging strategies that support reading with expression. Can’t wait to play with my child.

Robin E.

says: Customer Service

I hope you and your child have lots of fun with this, Esme.

Jessica H

says:

You always have the BEST ideas!! Thank you for making these available!

Amanda

says:

Helpful tips! My kids really enjoyed the sheep activity!

Amy

says:

So helpful! Thank you!

Lindsey M

says:

Cannot wait to try the sheep activity with my kiddos!

Evangeline

says:

Thank you for the good ideas!

Rachel Dispennette

says:

This is so helpful!

Moya Stewart

says:

Great ideas that can be used for a range of age groups.

Robin E.

says: Customer Service

Thank you, Moya!

Dorcas Ekupe

says:

Wow I enjoyed every bit of information here

Robin E.

says: Customer Service

Thank you, Dorcas! ?