What is Fluency?
Fluency is the ability to read with speed, accuracy, and with proper expression in order to comprehend. Those who can’t read fluently will eventually lack the motivation to read. Fluency is critical because the reading demands escalate with each grade.
Good Fluency means that the child can:
§ read words correct per minute at or above targeted benchmark.
§ read aloud without frustration or difficulty
§ read aloud with expression
§ chunk words into meaningful units
§ pause at meaningful breaks within sentences or paragraphs
§ track print
To Work on this skill:
§ Assess to be sure that decoding or word recognition is not the issue.
§ Give your child independent level texts to practice again and again. Time him/her and calculate words correct per minute regularly.
§ Have your child match his voice to a tape recorded reading.
§ Read a short passage and have your child immediately read it back. Start with books with predictable vocabulary and clear rhythmic patterns.
§ Have your child practice reading a passage with a certain emotion to emphasize expression and intonation.
§ Incorporate timed repeated readings.
§ Show your child how to pay attention to clues in the text, such as punctuation marks, that provide information about how the text should be read.