The science behind fluent readers….we want to build fluent readers, strong decoding skills need to be explicitly taught through the science of reading.
Of course, reading comprehension is the goal, and reading fluency is the key! The science behind fluent readers will develop in progression. We will dig deep into that in this post.
What is Reading Fluency?
Reading fluency is defined by Reading Rockets as, “Fluency is defined as the ability to read with speed, accuracy, and proper expression. In order to understand what they read, children must be able to read fluently whether they are reading aloud or silently. When reading aloud, fluent readers read in phrases and add intonation appropriately.” The science behind fluent readers is such an interesting topic!
Accuracy: The % of words read correctly.
Rate: Reading speed
Comprehension: The ability to understand the information in a text.
Reading well, not reading fast!
Let’s define a successful text reading fluency:
- reasonably accurate reading
2. at an appropriate rate (automaticity)
3. with appropriate expression
4. that leads to accurate and deep comprehension and motivation
Hasbrouck & Glaser (2019)
Dr. Deb Glaser discusses the 4 part processor model to illustrate how the brain reads or recognizes words.
- Orthographic Processor: letter recognition
- Phonological Processor: sound recognition
- Meaning Processor: All known meanings of the word are engaged.
- Context Processor: Confirming meaning
When a child sees “tub”, they make the sounds, “/t/ /u/ /b/”. Then as they say the word, it activates their knowledge of a tub and maybe picture it in their mind.
Fluency is a Progression
Let’s talk about reading fluency. It has a progression!
First, we begin with sounds, then words. Students become fluent in the letter sounds, then simple words. This is typically done in kindergarten and first grade.
Then we move into phrases and sentences. This can be done by reading unpredictable phrases or reading decodable texts. This can be done in all early grades!
We move on to fluently reading passages.
It is important to give high-quality feedback as reading fluency instruction is happening.
Teachers can give immediate feedback in an appropriate tone to promote reading skills.
Fluency = Automaticity
The goal is to read at least 95% accurately. In the Really Great Reading program, 98% is the goal that we focus on during our lessons! It is amazing how the students hold themselves accountable once they understand how reading accuracy is important. My 3rd-grade reading groups learn about accuracy in our first few lessons. They begin understanding how their reading comprehension directly corresponds to their accuracy.
Stahl and Kuhn (2002) state, “Fluent reading should sound like speech.”
We want the 4 part processor model to happen instantly!
Structured Literacy is Key!
The 7 key components will build the reading foundation that every student needs to become a successful reader.
Phonological/Phoneme Awareness
Word Identification: Phonics/Decoding
Automatic Word Recognition (“Sight Words”)
Reading Fluency (accuracy, rate, expression)
Spelling/Encoding
Handwriting
Language/Literacy Proficiency
Science of Reading Free Guide
The science behind fluent readers is important to me. I made a free guide for teachers and parents to make it easy to incorporate the Science of Reading with their students. The research behind the Science of Reading is so intriguing and I wanted to share how I incorporate it daily into my instruction. I wanted to make it SIMPLE for teachers to make this shift to teaching phonemic and decoding skills explicitly.
What is the Science of Reading?
The research behind the methods that best help children learn how to read.
The FREE guide will include:
- Simple tips to start incorporating research-based strategies in your classroom today!
- This guide will work in any early childhood setting or along with other reading programs!
- A quick checklist of simple ways to incorporate the SoR in your classroom.
- A complete guide with over 20 pages of information & resources for FREE! Download it today!
Using Decodable Texts to Build Fluency
Using DECODABLE text in the early stages of learning to read provides opportunities for appropriate application/practice which STRENGTHENS NEURAL CONNECTIONS for automaticity and fluency.
My favorite way to build strong decoders is using decodable books! Decodable books are defined as a book aligned to phonics instruction that students can use their skills to successfully read. IMPORTANT: If a student is stuck on a word while reading fluency sentences or a page in their decodable book…I give them strategies to figure it out.
- Here are a few reminders about helping children to become strong decoders:
- Remind them to start on the left.
- Say, “Stretch the sounds.”
- Say, “Say each sound.”
- After they read the page once, ask them to go back and read it smoothly!
- Remind students to not guess the words based on the pictures. If they do, ask them to go back and look at the letters in the word.
5 Easy Ways to Build Fluent Readers
- Build Phonological Awareness: Make a daily routine 10 minutes before lunchtime to practice phonological awareness. Ask students to add or delete phonemes from certain words, rhyming, beginning/ending sounds, and phoneme manipulation.
- Sound/Word Fluency: Practice and become fluent in saying individual word sounds and simple words or nonsense words.
- Fluency Phrases: Using the concepts we are learning or reviewing, I have the students practice small fluency phrases and build to full fluency sentences. Once the student decodes the phrase or sentence, we practice how to go back and reread it…building smooth reading fluency. IMPORTANT: If a student is stuck on a word while reading fluency sentences or a page in their decodable book…I give them strategies to figure it out.
- Decodable Books: My favorite way to build strong decoders is using decodable books! Decodable books are defined as a book aligned to phonics instruction that students can use their skills to successfully read.
- Choral Reading: Reading words, phrases, or sentences together. Engaging activity to promote reading fluency.
Resources to Help Build Fluent Readers
I have created the DECODING Bundle to help students get a little extra help with explicitly learning how to decode words correctly. All of the resources are completely editable to fit your lessons. You can add words that your class is working on or use the ones that are already made…ready to print!
Orton Gillingham methods have proven very successful for my students as well. The multi-sensory techniques help students find spelling patterns in words. The explicit phonics strategies in Orton Gillingham will help students decode unfamiliar words after learning various spelling patterns and syllable division. The science behind fluent readers is seen in many of these techniques.
In addition, I also LOVE Hello Literacy Decodable Readers!
Fluency is All About Comprehension…
- Don’t read too fast! Fluency is not about how fast you can read, focus on the accuracy, then automaticity.
- Augmented Silent Reading (students are given a question to answer before reading the passage)
- Previewing Informational Text (look at chapter title, questions at the end, read summary…then go back and read the text…you will know what you are looking for!)
- “Read Naturally”
- Read along with a model of accurate reading
- Repeated Reading (4-10 times)
- Monitor Progress (WCPM, expression, comprehension)
