The document describes a teacher using a photo story recording activity to help students improve their reading fluency and expression. The teacher had students record themselves reading parts of a reader's theater and then listen to their recordings to evaluate their expression. This allowed students to focus on improving expression when reading and helped them make greater progress than previous practice sessions. While using one computer was a limitation, students were actively engaged and able to track their own progress.

2. Language Arts

› Standard 5 Fluency
 Read grade level text in three- to four-word
phrases using intonation, expression, and
punctuation cues.

3. •To help increase reading
fluency and expression, my
mentor teacher had me help
the students work on a
readers theater.
•After practicing with small
groups for several days on
using more expression while
reading their parts, I became
frustrated because the
students were not improving.
•After reading Ashley’s blog, I
used her idea of having the
students record themselves
and listen to how they sound.

4. Because the students
were doing a readers
theater of fairy tales, I
though photo Story would
provide a perfect way for
students to narrate the
story and be able to
evaluate how their voices
sounded. I created a story
line with pictures that
corresponded with their
parts and then had the
students record and re-
record their narration.
After they listened to their
they could improve and
recorded themselves
again.

5. Once the students had
completed all the
narration, they could listen
and watch the whole story
coordinated with the
pictures. The students really
enjoyed this activity and
were able to make great
improvements in their voice
expression.
Because the students knew
they were being recorded
they made much greater
effort to concentrate on
adding expression than any
other practice session

6. Pros Cons With only one
computer to
Students improved record
quickly. on, students
became a little
restless.
Would be hard to
Students were
complete if I was a
actively engaged
solo teacher.
and supportive of
one another.
Students were
able to apply their
learning and were
able to track their
progress.

7. Student Use of
Technology • While I operated the computer, the students were actively involved
by recording themselves and listening to their own recording.
• Using Photo Story was not absolutely essential in creating a
Technology Use is successful Readers Theater but definitely improved the success of
Essential the activity. The student’s expression increased dramatically by
listening to their own recording rather just listening to me model.
• This activity was completely focused on helping the students
Focus on Learning improve their ability to read with expression. While it was fun to
Task use, the Photo Story program, the lesson focus was not on how to
use the program but rather how they could improve.
• This activity was not only fun and motivating but created
meaningful experience for the children. They were able to apply
Added Value what I had been trying to teach them and see real improvements
in their reading. Because the students knew they were being
recorded, they tried their best at using expression.