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Kofi Reads the Morning News

Read a story and a poem aloud with accuracy, a good pace and expression.

Read the story

Read the story aloud to a partner. Then read it a second time and listen for clues about how each part should sound.

Kofi Reads the News

1Every morning at Maple Hill School, one student reads the news over the loudspeaker. This week it was Kofi's turn. On Monday, he raced through every line without stopping. "Good morning the art room is closed today the soccer game is at four have a great day," he said, all in one breath.

2Mr. Patel, the school secretary, smiled. "You read every word right," he said, "but you read so fast that nobody could follow. Practice tomorrow's page three times tonight. Stop at each period, and let your voice show how each part feels."

3That evening, Kofi practiced aloud. The first time, he tripped over the word "auditorium." The second time, he slowed down and read it part by part: au-di-to-ri-um. The third time, the words came out smooth and clear.

4On Tuesday, Kofi leaned toward the microphone. "It is a great day at Maple Hill!" he called in a bright, cheerful voice. "Today is pizza day, and the chess club meets after school in the auditorium." He paused briefly at the comma. "Who wants to try out for the spring play?" he asked. Then he read the last line slowly and firmly. "Please do not forget to return your library books."

5Down the hall, students cheered for pizza day. Three readings had turned a jumble of words into news everyone could follow.

1.
Read paragraphs 1 and 2. What was wrong with Kofi's reading on Monday?
  • A. He skipped some of the words on the page.
  • B. He read too quietly for the class to hear.
  • C. He read too fast and never paused.
  • D. He said many of the words wrong.
2.
In paragraph 3, what did Kofi do the second time he read the word "auditorium"?
  • A. He skipped it and kept on reading.
  • B. He asked Mr. Patel to say it for him.
  • C. He changed it to a shorter, easier word.
  • D. He slowed down and read it part by part.
3.
Read paragraph 3 again. Underline the sentence that tells how Kofi's reading sounded after all his practice.

That evening, Kofi practiced aloud.The first time, he tripped over the word "auditorium."The second time, he slowed down and read it part by part: au-di-to-ri-um.The third time, the words came out smooth and clear.

4.
Use the clues in paragraph 4. Match each line Kofi read on Tuesday to the way he read it.
  1. "It is a great day at Maple Hill!"
  2. "Today is pizza day, and the chess club meets after school in the auditorium."
  3. "Who wants to try out for the spring play?"
  4. "Please do not forget to return your library books."
  1. A. with his voice going up at the end
  2. B. slowly and firmly
  3. C. in a bright, cheerful voice
  4. D. with a short pause at the comma
5.
In the last line of paragraph 4, the word not is printed in slanted letters. How should you read that word?
  • A. Say it with extra force.
  • B. Say it in a tiny whisper.
  • C. Say it faster than the rest.
  • D. Say it like a question.

Read the poem

Read the poem aloud two times. Each numbered part of the poem is a stanza.

The Freight Train

1Chug... chug... the engine wakes.
It hisses, groans, and slowly shakes.
It creeps out past the station gate
With heavy cars of grain and freight.

2Now clickety, clickety, clackety-clack,
It races down the shining track!
Past barns and hills and fields it flies—
Quick hellos and quick goodbyes!

3At last it slows. It creaks. It sighs.
The town is near. The whistle cries.
Then softly, softly, down the line,
It stops beside the station sign.

6.
Which stanza should you read the fastest?
  • A. Stanza 1
  • B. Stanza 2
  • C. Stanza 3
7.
Look for words that tell how the train moves. Sort the lines by the pace a reader should use.
It creeps out past the station gateIt races down the shining track!Past barns and hills and fields it flies—At last it slows. It creaks. It sighs.Quick hellos and quick goodbyes!It hisses, groans, and slowly shakes.
Read slowlyRead quickly
8.
Stanza 1 begins with "Chug... chug..." What do the dots tell you to do?
  • A. Read both words in a loud shout.
  • B. Read the words as fast as you can.
  • C. Read the words like a question.
  • D. Pause a little after each chug.
9.
In stanza 3, the train slows down and stops. How should your voice change as you read it?
  • A. It should get slower and softer.
  • B. It should get faster and louder.
  • C. It should go up, like a question.
  • D. It should stay sharp and loud.

Read it again

Think about what makes reading aloud sound smooth.

10.
Kofi read tomorrow's news three times before he read it to the school. How does reading a text more than once help?
  • A. The story changes a little every time you read it.
  • B. You can skip more of the hard words each time.
  • C. The words get easier, so your reading gets smoother.
  • D. You can stop paying attention to the punctuation.
11.
Match each reading word to what it means.
  1. accuracy
  2. pace
  3. expression
  4. rereading
  1. A. reading the same text one more time
  2. B. using your voice to show feelings
  3. C. reading each word correctly
  4. D. reading not too fast and not too slow
12.
Choose one stanza of "The Freight Train." Tell how you would read it aloud, and name two words in the stanza that give you a clue.