Expression in reading is how you use your voice to express feeling.
• Match the sound of your voice to what you are reading. For example, read louder and faster to show strong feeling. Read slower and quieter to show sadness or seriousness.
• Match the sound of your voice to the genre. For example, read a fun, fictional story using a fun, friendly voice. Read an informative, nonfiction article using an even tone and a more serious voice.
• Avoid speaking in monotone, which is using only one tone in your voice.
• Pause for emphasis and exaggerate letter sounds to match the mood or theme of what you are reading.
Practice incorrect expression by reading this sentence without changing the tone of your voice: I am so excited!
Now read the sentence again with proper expression: I am so excited! The way you use your voice while reading can help you to better understand what is happening in the text.
For additional practice, read the sentences below aloud with and without changing your expression. Compare how you sound each time.
• I am very sad.
• That was the most boring movie I have ever seen.
• We won the game!
Use the rubric below to measure how well a reader uses expression while reading aloud. For expression passages, see Reading Fluency Practice, pp. 648–671.
| 1 | 2 | 3 |
| The reader sounds monotone. The reader’s voice does not match the subject of what is being read. | The reader is making some tone changes. Sometimes, the reader’s voice matches what is being read. | The reader is using proper tones and pauses. The reader’s voice matches what is being read. |