Fluency is more than just reading rate! It also includes accuracy and good expression. If children read out loud with speed, accuracy, and proper expression, they are more likely to comprehend and remember the material.
Two approaches are usually used to teach reading fluency. One, repeated oral reading, encourages students to read passages out loud with guidance and feedback from their teacher.
The other, independent silent reading, encourages students to read silently on their own, inside and outside the classroom, with little guidance or feedback from their teachers.
See links below for activities and ideas for improving reading fluency.
Fry's Phrases and Short Sentences- students should practice reading these for different purposes: expression, accuracy, and rate.
Poems and rhymes are great for building fluency. Here are some good websites to practice with.
www.storyit.com (classic poetry for kids)
www.kidsfront.com (rhymes for kids)
www.apples4theteacher.com (Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes)
Reader's Theater is an awesome way to practice. For added benefit, use a recording app on your iPad (or similar device) to record kids' "performance." They love hearing themselves, and are quick to recognize when reading should be smoother! Here are a couple Reader's Theater websites, but any play/script within their reading level will do.
Teaching Heart Reader's Theater (good for K-3)
Jordan School District Reader's Theater Complete List
Have Fun Teaching website (options for multiple reading levels)