Read Like You Talk
Reading Comprehension Lessons
© 2000 MINDPLAY - Tucson, Arizona

Free Reading Comprehension Lessons from the My Reading Coach educational software

LESSON 8: Inflection and pausing after proper nouns

OBJECTIVE: The learner will pause and inflect when reading, like we do when we talk.

Read the first sentence to the learner, then read the second one with a pause after the proper noun Mike. Ask the learner, "If you want me to remember who dropped the glass, which way would you read the sentence? It is likely the learner will pause or inflect (turn the voice up or down for emphasis) after the name, because he wants to make sure you know it was Mike who dropped the glass.

Tell the learner that when we talk we want people to listen.  We may pause after a proper noun or we may inflect the proper noun itself to make sure the listener hears the name. We also do this when we read so that we can remember who we're talking about as we read.

Have the learner read these sentences, making sure he pauses or inflects after the proper name. If he does not understand how we inflect our voice, turn on the TV and listen to a commercial, pointing out how the voice goes up and down to get your attention.

Additional examples:

Go to Lesson 7

Go to Lesson 9