Effective Fluency is the ability to read a text accurately and quickly (Put Reading
First, p. 22). Fluency is important because it provides a bridge between word
recognition and comprehension. When fluent readers read silently, they recognize
words automatically and are able to concentrate on the meaning of the text.
Less fluent readers must focus their attention on decoding individual words
and therefore have little attention left for understanding text.
| FLUENCY |
| WHAT STUDENTS NEED TO LEARN | HOW TO TEACH IT |
- How to decode isolated words
accurately.
- How to read connected text
automatically with appropriate speed,
accuracy, and expression.
|
- Provide opportunities for students to
practice reading isolated words.
- Provide opportunities for students to
practice repeated oral reading with
guidance from teachers, peers (e.g.,
partner reading) and/or parents.
- Provide opportunities for students to
real aloud in groups (e.g., choral
reading) or to reread text
independently (e.g., reading along
with audiotape).
- Periodic assessment of reading fluency
to monitor student progress toward
achieving established fluency
benchmarks.
|