Fluency and Fluency Assessment Notes
Fluency and Fluency Assessment
Definition of Fluency
Fluency: The accurate reading of connected text at a conversational rate, with appropriate prosody.
Accurate reading: A requisite for fluency that leads to deep comprehension and motivation to read.
Key Elements of Fluency
Accuracy:
Recognition & decoding of words requires:
Alphabetic principle: Understanding the relationship between letters and sounds.
Ability to blend sounds into words.
Knowledge of high-frequency words.
Rate:
Measured via WCPM (Words Correct Per Minute).
Prosody:
Involves the tonal and rhythmic aspects of spoken language. Includes:
Expression or phrasing: Fluent reading resembles spoken language.
Stress: Emphasis on important words.
Phrasing: Reading meaningful phrases (not word-for-word).
Intonation: Changes in pitch reflecting punctuation.
Pauses: Reflects punctuation appropriately.
Oral Reading Fluency (ORF)
Definition:
A combination of reading rate and accuracy.
Used for screening and progress monitoring.
A good predictor of future reading performance.
Curriculum-Based Measurement (CBM)
Definition: An assessment tool commonly used to measure fluency.
Characteristics:
Uses passages at the student's grade level, usually around 250 words per passage.
Norm-referenced assessment:
Developed and validated to ensure similarity across grade levels.
Allows comparisons across classrooms, schools, and districts.
Purpose:
It is easy and time-efficient to administer and score.
Provides educators with information to inform instruction.
Questions Addressed by CBM
Is the student reading text quickly and accurately compared to grade-level norms or expectations?
Is the student making sufficient yearly progress?
Does the student's instruction need adjustment?
Conducting Fluency Assessment
Procedure:
The teacher listens as the student reads an unpracticed (cold) grade-level passage for one minute.
The teacher marks errors in a copy of the passage.
Score Calculation: Total words read minus errors = WCPM.
Frequency of Assessment: Conducted during fall, winter, and spring (except in 1st grade).
Oral Reading Fluency Norms
To establish a baseline, students read 3 passages; the teacher uses the median score for comparison.
If students’ WCPM scores fall within 10 words above or below the 50th percentile, they are considered in the normal, expected range.
Examples of WCPM scores as follows:
A first-grader who scored 12 WCPM in winter.
A second grader who scored 49 WCPM in fall.
A fourth grader who scored 100 WCPM in winter.
A sixth grader who scored 152 WCPM in spring.
Fluency Scores
Example Scores:
Ivy’s 4th Grade Winter Fluency Scores:
Passage 1: 187 WCPM
Passage 2: 170 WCPM
Passage 3: 179 WCPM
Median Score: ??? (to be calculated)
Lily’s 2nd Grade Spring Fluency Scores:
Passage 1: 112 WCPM
Passage 2: 98 WCPM
Passage 3: 103 WCPM
Median Score: ??? (to be calculated)
Assessing Prosody
Prosody Assessment Rating Scale:
Score based on:
Stress
Phrasing
Intonation
Expression
Pauses
Fluency Instruction
Key Indicators of Fluency
Appropriate Rate and Accuracy:
Automaticity: A combination of accuracy and rate, where fluent readers make few or no errors and read at a conversational pace.
Appropriate Prosody:
Involves reading orally with expression, including proper intonation, pausing, and phrasing.
Effective Fluency Instruction
Explicit Instruction with Modeling.
Systematic Instruction with Scaffolding.
Multiple Opportunities for Students to Practice and Respond.
Immediate and Corrective Feedback.
When to Teach Fluency
Instruction is determined by assessment; not all students need fluency instruction.
Struggling readers often require it to enhance accuracy, rate, and prosody.
Fluency Objectives
Decoding words accurately.
Recognizing words automatically.
Increasing reading rate.
Reading with prosody.
Incorporating Fluency into ELAR Instructional Models
Methods include:
Read Alouds
Shared Reading
Small Group Reading
Independent Reading
Strategies to Promote Accuracy, Rate, and Prosody
Promoting Accuracy: Activities like "Star Words".
Promoting Rate:
Student-Adult Reading.
Choral Reading.
Audiobooks.
Repeated Reading.
Partner Reading.
Prosody Strategies:
Alphabetic Prosody.
Alphabet Conversation.
Echo Reading.
Pre-Teach Challenging Text.
Shared Reading/Choral Reading.
Fun with Emojis :) and other playful techniques.
Readers Theatre.
Phrase-Cued Reading.
Concept of Fluency
Quote: "Fluency is not a means to an end in itself but a critical gateway to comprehension. Fluent reading frees cognitive resources to process the meaning of what is being read." - National Center for Improving Literacy.
Independent Reading and Literature Circles
Definition of Independent Reading
Independent Reading: Students engage in self-selected reading, practicing strategies that improve automaticity and fluency, with minimal guidance from teachers.
Importance of Independent Reading
Benefits:
Encourages extensive reading both in and out of classroom settings.
Upholds TEKS standards.
Develops literacy interests and habits.
Increases stamina and fluency.
Fosters better writing skills.
Enhances vocabulary acquisition, leading to better grammar and spelling skills.
Supports the notion that more time spent in text correlates to better reading capabilities (Matthew Effect).
Best Practices for Independent Reading
Providing students with choice in books, conducting book talks, and integrating mini-lessons before, during, and after reading sessions.
Teacher should monitor students and conduct one-on-one reading conferences.
Literature Circles
Definition: Small groups of students discuss literature centering on reader response, formed by book choice, promoting independence and accountability.
Benefits:
Cooperative learning and social experience.
Choice fosters engagement and deeper understanding of texts.
Conclusion
The instruction and assessment of fluency are instrumental in developing competent readers. It is essential to support students in achieving fluency through effective practices and continual monitoring.