Strategies to Promote Fluency

Fluency

Defined as ability to read with speed, accuracy, and proper expression, necessary skill for reading comprehension.

Needed so brain can focus on comprehension over decoding.

Fluency checks

Teacher measures student’s reading progress

Prosody

Timing, phrasing, emphasis, and intonation that readers use to help convey aspects of meaning and to make their speech lively.

Prosody includes:

• stopping at periods

• Pausing at commas

• Reading with inflection

• Reading with expression

Automaticity

The fast, effortless word recognition that comes with repeated reading practice

Students have automaticity when they’re reading greater than 95% accuracy

Accuracy

Amount of words a student reads correctly

Accuracy measured by having students read aloud during a fluency read (running record)z student reads and teacher marks any words the student miscues

Rate

Speed at which student reads correctly. Rate typically expressed in correct words per minute (wpm)

Cognitive endurance

Ability to read long text and build understanding and meaning

Readers Theater

Builds fluency

Students read different characters parts in the text

Works best with short stories and dramas

Consider:

• student interest

• Readability

• Matching text to task

Choose text students can read with 90-95% accuracy (not antiquated or unfamiliar language)

Choral reading

Read aloud in unison

Low risk and builds:

• fluency

• Self-confidence

• Motivation

Just say no to these strategies

Popcorn reading: randomly calling on students to read

Round robin: each student takes turns

Silent sustained reading- ineffective if student is struggling with the text

ELLs

Fluency instruction beneficial because:

• enhances vocabulary

• Students can learn pronunciation by listening to other readers

• Improve listening comprehension

Elements of effective fluency instruction:

• provide explicit model of fluent reading

• Include repeated readings of same text

• Provide performance criteria (speed)

• Choose texts that aren’t too difficult for ELLs