Reading Fluency by Megan Lamb
Why is fluency important?
Reading Fluency Leads to Reading Success!
What is Oral Reading Fluency?
Recognizing Reading Fluency
Reading Rate
Automatic Word Recognition
Phrasing
Why are some students more fluent than others?
- Fluent readers have models of fluent reading at home.
Fluent readers are asked to focus on expression while struggling readers are asked to focus on isolated reading skills (phonics, word recognition, etc).
Fluent readers are given more opportunities to read aloud during class.
Fluent readers read more texts that are on-level while struggling readers read more texts that are above their reading level.
Fluent readers have more time or take more time for silent reading.
- Fluent readers understand the importance of accuracy AND expression.
Practices to improve reading fluency:
Oftentimes, teachers do not explicitly teach 'reading fluency,' but it's important that we take part of our class time to focus on improving our student's oral reading fluency. These are a few practices that can be implemented in your classroom!
- Modeling
- Repeated reading
- Paired oral reading
- Choral Reading
- Oral Recitation Lesson -- teacher reads orally, provides discussion on prosodic elements in text, students practice these elements, then students perform a reading of the text.
It's important to remember that these practices should incorporate teacher guidance and instruction! Also, reading fluency methods should still focus on and be rooted in reading comprehension.
References:
Richards, M. (2000). Be a good detective: Solve the case of oral reading fluency. Reading Teacher, 53, 534-539.
Stahl, S. A., & Kuhn, M. R. (2002). Making it sound like language: Developing reading fluency. Reading Teacher, 55, 582-584.
Email: mllamb@uga.edu