Fluency
What is fluency?
Fluency is the ability to read a text accurately and quickly. When fluent readers read silently, they recognize words automatically. They group words quickly to help them gain meaning from what they read. Fluent readers read aloud effortlessly and with expression. Their reading sounds natural, as if they are speaking. Readers who have not yet developed fluency read slowly, word by word. Their oral reading is choppy and plodding.
--National Institute for Literacy
Why is fluency important?
Fluency is important because it provides a bridge between word recognition and comprehension. Because fluent readers do not have to concentrate on decoding the words, they can focus their attention on what the text means. They can make connections among the ideas in the text and between the text and their background knowledge. In other words, fluent readers recognize words and comprehend at the same time. Less fluent readers, however, must focus their attention on figuring out the words, leaving them little attention for understanding the text.
--National Institute for Literacy
How do I teach fluency?
Students who read and reread passages orally as they receive guidance and/or feedback become better readers. Repeated oral reading substantially improves word recognition, speed, and accuracy as well as fluency. To a lesser but still considerable extent, repeated oral reading also improves reading comprehension. Repeated oral reading improves the reading ability of all students throughout the elementary school years. It also helps struggling readers at higher grade levels.
Traditionally, many teachers have relied primarily on round-robin reading to develop oral fluency. In round-robin reading, students take turns reading parts of a text aloud (though usually not repeatedly). But round-robin reading in itself does not increase fluency. This may be because students only read small amounts of text, and they usually read this small portion only once.
Researchers have found several effective techniques related to repeated oral reading:
--National Institute for Literacy
How do I assess fluency?
Supporting Websites
(Be sure and check out my Student Links)
Fluency is the ability to read a text accurately and quickly. When fluent readers read silently, they recognize words automatically. They group words quickly to help them gain meaning from what they read. Fluent readers read aloud effortlessly and with expression. Their reading sounds natural, as if they are speaking. Readers who have not yet developed fluency read slowly, word by word. Their oral reading is choppy and plodding.
--National Institute for Literacy
Why is fluency important?
Fluency is important because it provides a bridge between word recognition and comprehension. Because fluent readers do not have to concentrate on decoding the words, they can focus their attention on what the text means. They can make connections among the ideas in the text and between the text and their background knowledge. In other words, fluent readers recognize words and comprehend at the same time. Less fluent readers, however, must focus their attention on figuring out the words, leaving them little attention for understanding the text.
--National Institute for Literacy
How do I teach fluency?
Students who read and reread passages orally as they receive guidance and/or feedback become better readers. Repeated oral reading substantially improves word recognition, speed, and accuracy as well as fluency. To a lesser but still considerable extent, repeated oral reading also improves reading comprehension. Repeated oral reading improves the reading ability of all students throughout the elementary school years. It also helps struggling readers at higher grade levels.
Traditionally, many teachers have relied primarily on round-robin reading to develop oral fluency. In round-robin reading, students take turns reading parts of a text aloud (though usually not repeatedly). But round-robin reading in itself does not increase fluency. This may be because students only read small amounts of text, and they usually read this small portion only once.
Researchers have found several effective techniques related to repeated oral reading:
- Students read and reread a text a certain number of times or until a certain level of fluency is reached.
- Four rereadings are sufficient for most students.
- Oral reading practice is increased through the use of audiotapes, tutors, peer guidance, or other means.
--National Institute for Literacy
How do I assess fluency?
- DIBELS Oral Reading Fluency Error Pattern Study Sheet
- Oral Reading Fluency Norms (Current and important information)
- Cooperative Repeated Reading (from The Fluent Reader)
- Literacy Center Repeated Reading (we use computers)
- Fluency Passages for The Best Thing in the World (Passage containing all 220 Dolch Basic Sight Words): Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6 (The entire passage can be downloaded here.)
- Fluency Passages forThe Best Thing in the World (Passage containing all 220 Dolch Basic Sight Words) This one is broken down in smaller parts for 1st Grade fluency passages (approximately 60 words per passage). Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11
- Our reading series provides fluency passages and leveled readers also, which are part of the repeated readings they practice.
Supporting Websites
(Be sure and check out my Student Links)