Fluency is characterized by:
-accuracy
-an appropriate reading pace
-proper phrasing
-responding to punctuation
-expression and intonation
Non-fluent reading is characterized by:
-word by word reading
-slow, labored reading
-reading in a flat, monotone voice
-reading through punctuation (not pausing at periods and commas, reading
questions as if they were statements, etc.)
The following suggestions will help to improve your child's fluency:
-Read aloud to your child. You will serve as a model for fluent,
expressive reading. This will help them to distinguish what good reading
sounds like. Books on tape are also great for modeling good, fluent reading.
-Choral read several pages together. This means that you and your child
are reading the printed words at the same time. This will help your
child with appropriate pacing.
-Echo read. You will read a sentence of text with expression. Then, your
child will read back, or echo, that same line of text that you just read. The
goal is for the child to mimic your phrasing and expression.
-When reading with your child, pay particular attention to punctuation.
Be sure that he/she pauses at periods and commas. If a question mark is
present, the reader should sound like they are asking a question. Also, if
there is an exclamation point, the reader should read with extra excitement.
-Repeated readings of texts are great for practicing fluency. If the child is
already familiar with a text, they can spend less time decoding words and
more time focusing on fluency