Fluency is the ability to read with speed, accuracy and proper expression both aloud and silently. Fluent readers read in phrases and add intonation (expression) and sound “smooth”.
Becoming a fluent reader is important because it enables your child to move from using their mental energy to decode unfamiliar words, to thinking deeply about what is being read and making connections. This video shares more about the fluency milestones across grade levels.
How do I know if my child is struggling with fluency?
Below is a description of what it looks like from the perspective of a child, parent and teacher when a child is struggling with fluency.
What this feels like to me
- “I seem to get stuck when I try to read a lot of the words in this chapter”
- “It takes me so long to read something!”
- “I read slower than my friends.”
- “It takes me a long time to get through a paragraph!”
- “Reading through this book takes so much of my energy, I can’t even think about what it means.”
What I see at home
- He knows how to read the words but seems to take a long time to read a short book or passage silently.
- She reads a book with no expression; every word or sentence sounds the same.
- He stumbles a lot and loses his place when reading something aloud.
- She moves her mouth when reading silently (subvocalizing).
What I see in the classroom
- Her results on words-correct-per-minute assessments are below grade level or target.
- He has difficulty and grows frustrated when reading aloud, either because of speed or accuracy.
- She does not read aloud with expression, changing her tone when appropriate.
- He does not chunk words into meaningful units.
What can we do to develop fluency skills?
Below are strategies children, parents and teachers can use to support the development of fluency skills.
What I can do to help myself
- Track the words with your finger as a parent or teacher reads the passage aloud. Then you read it.
- Have a parent or teacher read aloud to you. Then, match your voice to theirs.
- Read your favorite books and poems over and over again. Practice getting smoother and reading with expression.
What I can do to help my child
- Support and encourage your child. Realize that he or she is likely frustrated by reading.
- Check with your child’s teacher to find out their assessment of your child’s decoding skills.
- Read aloud to your child to provide an example of how fluent reading sounds.
Find more information about what you can do at home to help your child in the box below!
What I can do to help in the classroom
- Assess the student to make sure that word decoding or word recognition is not the source of the difficulty.
- Give the student independent level texts that he can practice with again and again. Regularly time the stduent and calculate words-correct-per-minute
- Read a short passage and then have the student immediately read it back to you.
- Record the child reading and help them to set a fluency goal. Based on how they read, should they work on speed, expression or phrasing?
- Before the student reads a paragraph, have them practice identifying the phrases in the sentences and “scoop” them with a pencil so they can work on phrasing.
What are some fun activities I can do at home to support fluency development?
Below are activities you can do at home depending upon the stage of your child’s reading.
- Teaching the Alphabet: This video explains ways to support your child become fluent at identifying letter names and sounds.
- Model Fluent Reading: These engaging read alouds demonstrate fluent reading.
- Echo Reading: This video demonstrates echo reading. This strategy supports students in developing their oral reading fluency as they “echo” the other reader.
- Choral Reading: This video demonstrates choral reading. This strategy supports students in developing their oral reading fluency as they read along with another reader.
- Recorded Reading: Have your child record themselves reading using the Voice Memo App or by recording a video to identify how they can improve their fluency.
- Reading Fluency | Start with a Book: This page provides a variety of activities that support older readers in developing their fluency. It also provides guidance on how to select appropriate books for your child.
- Reading SOS: How can I help my child read more smoothly? – YouTube: If your child sounds robotic while reading, the techniques provided in this video support children in reading with natural expression and phrasing.
- Recorded Reading: Have your child record themselves reading using the Voice Memo App or by recording a video to identify how they can improve their fluency.
- Reader’s Theater: Act out scripts by practicing with different expression, prosody, intonation and rate of speech.
- Fading: Read to your child together then fade out when they are reading at a natural pace. If they start slowing down read with them then fade back out when they are at a natural pace.
- Be the Star: Let your child film themselves reading a book. They can practice reading it with different expression until they have it just right.
- Karaoke: Play karaoke versions of songs and sing the lyrics at the pace of the music
- Subtitles: Watch a favorite movie with subtitles on and read at the pace of the actor. Practice with different expressions and intonation.
- For more activities visit the Reading Rockets Website
Adapted from: Reading Rockets, a collaborative project of Reading Rockets, the Access Center and LD OnLine, Target the Problem!