Fluency can be one of the most FUN aspects of literacy to teach. Unfortunately, it is also the most commonly overlooked skill. This 4 part blog series focuses on reading fluency and ways to explicitly teach these skills to students.
- Part 1 explains what is reading fluency and the 4 components
- Part 2 addresses the biggest fluency mistakes teachers tend to make
- Part 3 provides actionable fluency strategies for struggling readers
- Part 4 suggests tools for improving reading fluency
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What is Reading Fluency?
Fluency is the ability to read efficiently and accurately with meaningful expression; however, recently fluency has become synonymous with speed. Fluency is NOT just reading quickly. While rapid word recognition is required, fluency also incorporates phrasing, accuracy, prosody (expression), and meaning. Students need to be able to group words into meaningful phrases and pay attention to punctuation while reading. Reading should sound similar to how we talk with appropriate changes in pace, tone, pitch, and volume. Most importantly students must think about what they’re reading to make sure it makes sense. Reading without meaning is not reading, it is word calling.
Students who read orally with good expression are more likely to comprehend deeply when reading silently.
Timothy Rasinski, The Megabook of Fluency
What are the Fluency Components?
Reading fluency is comprised of 4 components: rate, prosody, accuracy, and comprehension. Let’s take a closer look at these components.
Component #1: Rate
Fluency Rate refers to the pace at which the text is read. Fluent reading is not slow such as word-by-word reading, but it is also not fast speed reading. It reminds me of Goldilocks – not too fast, not too slow, but just right! In fact, when the fluency rate is too fast or too slow, the meaning of the text can be lost. We have all experienced speed readers who try to read as quickly as possible but cannot remember what they read. Obviously, that is not the desired outcome and does not demonstrate fluent reading!
The speed at which a reader reads a text depends on their automaticity or ability to quickly identify words or phrases. Automaticity can occur within the context of the text or in isolation (such as flashcards with sight words or commonly used phrases).
Component #2: Prosody
Prosody refers to expressive reading with appropriate rhythm and phrasing that reflects the meaning of the text. One way to do this is through intonation, which is the way a reader varies the tone, pitch, and volume of their voice to convey meaning. For example, our pitch and volume increase when we’re excited. As a result, we should read the text in the same manner when a character is excited.
Prosody incorporates phrasing, which is putting words together into meaningful groups. This also includes appropriately pausing when indicated by the punctuation. Effective phrasing leads to a fluent reading rate and helps to convey meaning.
Component #3: Accuracy
Accuracy is the reader’s ability to read the words in the text accurately. When too much time is spent decoding a word, the fluency rate is negatively affected. As a result, there can be a breakdown of meaning for students. Meaning is also lost when words are read inaccurately.
Automaticity plays a vital role in students’ accuracy. The more words and phrases students can quickly and accurately identify while reading, the better their reading fluency and comprehension become.
Component #4: Comprehension
You have probably noticed that conveying meaning has been discussed in all of the other 3 components of reading fluency. Comprehension and fluency go hand in hand. Students who read fluently tend to have a deeper understanding of the text. If students read at an inappropriate rate, without adding expression, or with inaccurate decoding, chances are they will not remember or comprehend what was read. Ultimately the goal of fluent reading is to increase comprehension of the text.
Introducing the Components to Students
It is crucial for teachers to explicitly teach students the components of reading fluency so that they can apply the strategies independently. Teachers should model and provide authentic practice with the components. Learn about strategies for teaching reading fluency.
One way I provide students with a visual reminder of the strategies is through the use of Fluency Superheroes. Each superhero represents a different component of reading fluency, while the villains serve as a reminder of what not to do while reading. Find out how you can use the fluency superheroes with your students!
Want to Learn More?
Timothy Rasinski is THE fluency guru. He has written many books and articles about fluency. Irene C. Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell are the overall literacy gurus, who have written an extremely comprehensive book that further discusses the fluency components and instructional strategies. To find out more about reading fluency, check out these books:
Were you already familiar with the components of reading fluency? Do you have any further questions? Let me know in the comments below!
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