reading fluency flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering essential terms and concepts related to reading fluency, its components, instructional strategies, and assessment.

Reading Fluency

The ability to read with speed, accuracy, and expression; it bridges decoding and comprehension.

Phonics Instruction

Systematic teaching of sound–letter relationships that strengthens decoding and supports fluency.

Decoding

Translating written words into spoken language by applying knowledge of letter–sound correspondences.

Print Awareness

Understanding the forms and functions of printed language, such as directionality and book handling.

Alphabetic Knowledge

The ability to recognize, name, and write letters of the alphabet.

Phonemic Awareness

The ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken words.

Alphabetic Principle

The concept that letters and combinations of letters represent the sounds of spoken language.

Irregular High-Frequency Words

Common words that cannot be phonetically sounded out and must be recognized instantly by sight.

Accuracy (Fluency Component)

Reading words correctly with automatic word recognition.

Prosody

Reading with appropriate expression, phrasing, intonation, and emphasis.

Speed / Rate

Reading at an appropriate pace, usually measured in words per minute (WPM).

Supervised Oral Reading

Students read aloud while a teacher provides immediate corrective feedback to build accuracy.

Audio/Video-Assisted Reading

Listening to a fluent recording while following along in text to model correct pronunciation and pacing.

Partner and Small-Group Reading

Peers read together to practice fluency, offer support, and give feedback.

Teacher-Modeled Reading

Instructor demonstrates fluent, expressive reading to provide a prosodic model.

Readers’ Theater

A performance-based reading strategy that encourages expressive oral reading through scripted roles.

Choral Reading

Whole class or group reads a passage aloud in unison to build expression and confidence.

Rereading Familiar Text

Repeated reading of known material to develop speed and automaticity.

Timed Repeated Reading

Reading the same passage multiple times within set time limits to increase reading rate.

Independent Reading

Self-selected, silent reading that provides practice and reinforces fluency skills.

Oral Timed Reading

Fluency assessment in which a student reads a grade-level passage aloud for about 60 seconds.

Words Correct Per Minute (WCPM)

Objective metric combining speed and accuracy to quantify a reader’s fluency.

NAEP Oral Fluency Rating Scale

A tool used to subjectively evaluate a reader’s prosody and overall oral fluency.

Non-Automatic Reader

A reader who lacks effortless word recognition due to weak decoding or limited sight-word knowledge.

Automatic Reader

A reader who recognizes words automatically but may struggle with comprehension due to limited schema or complex syntax.

Schema (Background Knowledge)

A reader’s prior knowledge and experiences that facilitate understanding of new texts.