Fun Ways to Build Reading Fluency
INcompassing Education
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By April Connelley
Fluency is essential for skilled reading. It is often referred to as the bridge between decoding and comprehension. I’d add that it’s also a huge factor when it comes to joyful reading. No one wants to do things that are laborious or feel like a chore. So how can we engage students in fluency building activities that are fun?
What is Fluency??
Let’s start with what fluency is and isn’t. Fluency is the ability to read accurately, at the appropriate pace, and with expression. It isn’t about speed reading or reading fast. A fluent reader reads accurately and effortlessly producing oral reading that sounds like talking.
Fluency is a result of automatic word reading that comes when readers have many words stored in their long-term memory through a process called orthographic mapping which links sound-symbol relationships with meaning. Fluency is crucial to reading comprehension because when someone can read effortlessly, it lessens the cognitive load and allows for deeper comprehension.?
So, what should we do to build fluency?
Here are a few of my favorite ideas to target fluency that are easy to incorporate into day to day learning. Remember fluency practice isn’t limited to the English Language Arts department, teachers from all content areas can easily support reading acquisition. Keep in mind that fluency practice should happen after students have had explicit instruction in phonics and have been taught the sound/symbol relationships of the words they are reading. Decodable text can be used for fluency if students are still in the process of developing alphabetic principle.
1. Engage students in?repeated reading?opportunities on a regular basis. Use shorter text and give students a purpose for each reading. For example, read first to find the gist, then on a second read ask a more in-depth question.
2. Set time aside for students to?partner read. This allows students additional opportunities to read text as well as listen to peers read. Select partnerships strategically, consider things like behavior and reading skills.
3. Encourage students to listen to proficient readers with?audiobooks.
4. Warm-up readers by?reading short phrases?like those found?here?to help students practice phrasing (Serravallo 2015). To make it engaging, have students track how many phrases they can read in a minute or incorporate the phrase reading into a simple game.
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5. Make sure students receive feedback about their fluency, you can use a?fluency rubric?like the one found?here?to help make your feed meaningful and precise. Students can also use a student friendly version to rate their own fluency or the fluency of a partner.
6. Practice reading using?poetry?which lends itself to natural rhythm and easy phrases.
7. Have small groups of students practice reading using a?script or reader’s theater. A description of the process can be found?here.
8. Read text with suggested?phrasing marks. See the example found?here.
About April Connelley
April is a life-long learner and educator with 24 years of experience in elementary and special education. She offers expertise in literacy, including the Science of Reading, instructional coaching, professional learning, and curriculum development.
Prior to joining INcompassing Education, April fulfilled the role of Literacy Specialist working with multiple school districts across the country, as well as an Early Reading Virtual Coach, and Early Reading Training Facilitator. As a District Instructional Coach and E/LA Curriculum Coordinator April focused on bringing written and taught curriculum together. April spent 15 years working directly with students as a Reading Interventionist and Special Education teacher. She is an avid reader and advocates for students to develop life-long reading habits by finding their personal reading identity.
April has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Saint Francis; a Master’s Degree from Concordia University Mequon, WI; and completed an endorsement program in Educational Leadership.