What is Reading Fluency?
Reading Rockets defines reading fluency as "the ability to read a text accurately, quickly, and with expression." However, there are people who believe it is not as important as independent reading, for example (K12 Reader). Despite such a sentiment, reading fluency is essentially a sub-set - an important one to say the least - of the five blocks of reading instruction. The other four include phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, and comprehension. All of these blocks of reading instruction are a vital part of a balanced literacy program for our students.
Personally, I have seen how having reading fluency as a part of the language arts or literacy block supports a student's growth in terms of reading a text or story. While reading fluency is traditionally seen in the primary level (KG to Grade 3) classroom, it is also useful in junior and middle school (Grades 4 to 8). Reader's theatre, for example, is one form of instruction that works well across the grades. The flowchart below is useful when thinking about how to teach reading fluency across the years. For KG and Grade 1 classroom, I will be adding a phonics section in the future to go over instruction around letters and letter sounds.
Personally, I have seen how having reading fluency as a part of the language arts or literacy block supports a student's growth in terms of reading a text or story. While reading fluency is traditionally seen in the primary level (KG to Grade 3) classroom, it is also useful in junior and middle school (Grades 4 to 8). Reader's theatre, for example, is one form of instruction that works well across the grades. The flowchart below is useful when thinking about how to teach reading fluency across the years. For KG and Grade 1 classroom, I will be adding a phonics section in the future to go over instruction around letters and letter sounds.
