Promoting Fluency

Students in the primary grades have learned a core of sight words as well as strategies to decode unknown words. This word knowledge may help them to read accurately, but they may not read fluently--that is, quickly and with appropriate expression. This can have a negative effect on comprehension. Here are some ways to promote fluency and enhance comprehension.

• Develop a classroom library that includes a wide range of reading levels for independent reading.
• Provide time each day for students to read at their independent level--98 to 100% accuracy in word recognition and adequate comprehension.
• Model fluent oral reading during daily read-aloud.
• Provide reasons for students to reread text (ask students to reread text to support their answers for a discussion).
• Have students create and participate in Reader's Theater.
• Encourage students to choose character parts and read dialogue with a partner.
• Have students prepare and read to younger students ("reading buddies").

Based on the following articles:
Johnston, P. "Assessment Conversations." The Reading Teacher 57, no. 1 (2003): 90-92. Johnston, P. "Literacy Assessment and the Future." The Reading Teacher 58, no. 7 (2005): 684-686.