Fluency tends to be a skill commonly overlooked in elementary classrooms. Many times this is a result of teachers not having training or experience with the strategies to use for teaching fluency. But this list of fluency strategies for struggling readers will help you get started with your students!
This 4 part blog series further explores the concept of reading fluency and instructional strategies to use.
- 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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How to Improve Students’ Fluency
This list of fluency strategies for struggling readers can be used for all elementary students:
Read Alouds
Teachers should be striving to read aloud to their students every single day. This provides students with a model of how a fluent reader sounds. Setting up a listening center with audiobooks or opportunities to listen to stories online is another way to model fluent reading. But these should not take the place of teacher read alouds!
Think Alouds
Similar to how we provide think alouds to explain our thinking in regard to comprehension, it’s also an effective approach for teaching fluency strategies. During the read aloud, teachers explain how they implement appropriate pausing for punctuation, use expression to convey how a character is feeling, and various other fluency skills. It is important to explicitly state your thought process during reading so students internalize the same strategies while they read.
Echo Reading
Another way teachers can model fluent reading is through echo reading. With this strategy, the teacher reads a short text (phrase or sentence) and models fluent reading. The students then orally mimic the pacing and inflections used by the teacher. Mo Willems’ Pigeon books are the PERFECT to use with this strategy!
Choral Reading
The teacher and students all read a passage together. This strategy provides a model of fluent reading and supports students in their fluency development.
Buddy Reading
Students can practice oral reading fluency with a buddy. It can provide them with an additional model of fluent reading. Be cautious about how you pair up students within your class. Putting a struggling reader with a fluent reader could be counterproductive if it makes the lower reader feel self-conscious.
A more effective approach is the Reading Buddies Program, which pairs up an older student with a younger student. This eliminates any comparisons among same-aged peers. The older student is able to model fluent reading, while the younger student gains authentic fluency practice.
The students LOVE reading Mo Willems’ Elephant & Piggie books with a buddy. These books are ideal for buddy reading as there are 2 characters. The students pick which character they want to be as they read. So much fun!
Repeated Reading
Yes, you can read a book more than once! I’m sure you’ve had students, or even parents, question you when you send the same book home two nights in a row. But the repeated reading allows students to practice fluent reading. I explain to students that the 1st read is to figure out any hard words and what the story is about. The 2nd, 3rd, and additional reads are all opportunities to focus on improving their fluency. During these multiple rereads, students practice reading to sound like we talk.
Readers Theater
Students LOVE doing Readers Theater scripts! They are an engaging way to practice fluent reading in an authentic manner. The best part is you can use Readers Theater for so much more than just fluency instruction.
Scooping Phrases
Reading in meaningful phrases is a key component of fluency. A helpful way to practice phrased reading is scooping words into phrases. Begin by putting a passage inside a dry erase pocket or sheet protector. Students use dry erase markers to draw lines to scoop words together into meaningful phrases. They can then practice reading the passage with the phrases as they marked and adjust the phrases accordingly.
Recorded Reading
In order for students to become fluent readers, they need to actually hear themselves read. Students can record themselves using voice memos on any digital device. As they listen back to themselves, they should reflect on their fluency. You’ll want to model how to effectively reflect on reading and then modify reading accordingly.
Authentic Reading
Students just need time to read, read, and read some more! The only way to get better at something is with LOTS of practice.
Fluency Superheroes
My favorite way to teach students how to read fluently is with the Fluency Superheroes! These characters represent the fluency components: prosody, rate/phrasing, accuracy, and comprehension. They serve as visual reminders to encourage students to read fluently. This is similar to using the Decoding Buddies Reading Strategies to help students with decoding.
After introducing the fluency components with these superheroes, teachers can provide students with authentic practice. By displaying or providing students with bookmarks showing these visual reminders, students can independently implement fluency skills while reading.
Without a doubt, the fluency superheroes have made the biggest impact on my students’ ability to read fluently. Find out how I use the fluency superheroes and how you can introduce them to your students!
Additional Strategies
Timothy Rasinski is THE fluency guru who has written multiple books and articles about fluency. The Fluency Megabook is a phenomenal book filled with additional strategies you can easily implement.
Reflect on Your Own Instruction
No matter which strategies you use for teaching fluency strategies, the most important thing is that you ARE teaching students how to read fluently! Which fluency activities are you already using in your classroom? Are there any additional fluency strategies for struggling readers you’ve found to be effective? Share in the comments below!
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