Reading Games for First Graders

First graders have a pretty good idea of who they are; most are six years old, confident, full of energy, and are new readers. Teachers often take advantage of this new-found talent by constructing lesson plans that encourage the students to read often. This kind of practice improves their reading and speaking skills. Reading games are one of the ways the teacher can make reading an enjoyable experience.

Reading Circle

A reading circle is a reading game that not only improves a first grader's' reading skills but also improves his prediction and reasoning skills. Have the students form a circle; if there is no reading rug, have them sit on the floor in the front of the classroom. Have one student read 2 pages from a book; this student sits in a "big chair" next to the circle. When the student has finished reading, he chooses a student from the circle and asks him to predict what happens next in the story. The student must answer in 30 seconds. When the time has elapsed, the student who delivered the prediction has his turn in the "big chair," where he reads 2 pages and then calls on another student to give a prediction. The reading circle continues until each student has a turn.

Reading Circle as Lesson Plan

The "reading circle" game can also serve as a lesson plan for the teacher. For instance, after each student has had a turn reading and making a prediction, ask the students how their predictions varied from what actually happened in the story. This elaboration also strengthens reasoning and listening skills.

Matching

A Matching game is inexpensive to create and can be played individually at home or in a group at school. To create, the teacher or parent needs 20-30 index cards; separate the index cards into two piles; then write the words you want the child to read on a card from each pile. (You will have two cards with the same word on them, one in each pile.) Shuffle the cards to mix them up; then place the index cards face down on the floor or on a long table. To play, each student must turn over one card to read a word; she then tries to guess where its match is from among the other cards by turning over another card. If she chooses the match, she continues by choosing another card, and so on. If she does not choose the correct match, she has to return both cards to their original spots and the next student takes her turn. This game improves first graders' reading and memory skills. For more information, more games, or to print the PDF associated with the game, see References.

Online Games

If first graders use computers in the classroom, there are also online games that improve reading skills. Most of the games online are interactive, fun, and engaging. The focus is strictly on building reading and comprehension skills. For instance, the student is asked to read 2 to 3 sentences about a particular character or situation and a multiple choice question follows. The student cannot move on to the next story until the question is answered correctly. Kaboose and Starfall are free to use and there are various games to choose from. The students can also use most of the online reading sites at home with their parents. To visit the Starfall or Kaboose website, see Resources.

Effects

If a teacher has a lot of students in her classroom, reading games are a great way to identify any students who need extra instruction, (i.e., slow to participate, disengaged, trouble with pronunciation). Reading games can also create free time for the teacher to provide that extra instruction to certain students because the majority of the students are participating in the reading game.

References

• PBS Teachers

Resources

• Learn to Read at Starfall
• Kaboose