Fluency

Fluency

1. Reading Fluency

   • The ability to read with speed, accuracy, and prosody
   • At approximately 4th grade, reading rates drop when reading requires more emphasis on expository text.
   • Reading Experience and Practice
     • A minimum of 20 minutes/day of silent reading can help increase fluency
     • Comprehension is improved when students are taught to read in meaningful chunks, with good phrasing and expression
     • Students should have opportunities to read aloud, and to hear themselves and other people reading aloud
       • Opportunities to Read Aloud
         • Poetry reading
         • Readers theatre
         • Echo, choral reading
   • Phrase Markings
     • Improve students’ expression by helping them read in meaningful word groups
   • FORI
     • Connects research-based practice of repeated readings with independent, silent reading
   • Oral Recitation Lesson
     • A fluency instruction intervention that contains key ingredients of effective fluency instruction and provides teacher assistance and modeling
     • Has a major focus on comprehension
     • Can be used in both whole- and small-group instruction
     • Contains both direct and indirect instruction

2. Fostering Writing Fluency

   • Main components of writing fluency:
     • Speed and automaticity of the conventions of writing (esp. spelling)
   • Fluent writers have:
     • A continuous flow of ideas and independence and confidence
   • Suggestions for Developing Automaticity in Writing
     • Teacher modeling:
       • Demonstrations and minilessons
       • Guided practice and independent writing sessions
     • Spelling automaticity and handwriting flow:
       • Use a computer for spellcheck and to reduce worry about legible handwriting

3. Troubleshooting

   • Online resources can provide mechanisms for fluent reading—see and hear text and recognize familiar stories.