What components comprise high-quality reading instruction?Reading fluency refers to an ability to read text with accuracy, speed, and intonation. A fluent reader will exhibit specific characteristics, such as: Show
Fluency develops over time and with considerable practice. In the Challenge section of this module, you heard both a fluent and a nonfluent reader read a story about Claire. Let’s listen as the readers finish the story. Transcript: Fluent Reader Claire runs over to the park. She swings on the swings. She climbs on the monkey bars. But where is Jim? Claire is sad. She goes home. Claire finds Jim. Jim is in Claire’s backyard! Transcript: Nonfluent Reader Cla ire ru roo uns ov She swings swing swings ins on the s low s low sw-ing sw ings. Sha She cli imbs the mon the mon the mon key mon key bears. But where is Jimmy. Cla ire is said. She go ez hah hah mm mm ho mm mm. Cla ire f f fi fi finds Jimmy. Jimmy is Cla ire’s Cla ire’s bac bac bake bake eek eek a an ard bck ee ard. er to the pa rk. Why Should I Teach It?Studies show that fluency and reading comprehension skills are closely related. Nonfluent readers work so hard at decoding individual words in a sentence that they end up not comprehending what they have read. Difficulty with decoding and sight-word recognition places greater demands on students’ cognitive abilities. Consequently, struggling students are unable to connect one idea to the next, resulting in poor understanding. Due to this poor understanding, these students often find reading unpleasant, and they are unable to adequately participate in reading-based activities in the classroom or at home. Look at the table below to see the difference fluency makes in comprehension when students read poetry. Poetry is a fun and easy model for demonstrating how a fluent reader should sound. Poems are easy to practice because they are often short and have rhythm. ActivityThe back slashes in the stanza indicate where the fluent reader paused while reading. Compare it to the nonfluent reader’s pauses. Try reading the poem using the distinct pauses. Next try reading the poem using a monotone intonation.
As students practice reading out loud, they learn where to pause. For instance, they learn that readers will pause at the end of sentences but also sometimes within a sentence. Students also learn when to alter their emphasis on a word or their tone. This, in turn, helps students understand how to use expression in their voices as they read, augmenting their understanding of the written text. Teachers should offer examples for students to hear and should explain why a text should be read in a certain way. How Do I Teach It?Fluency develops when students practice reading and rereading words, passages, or other texts with a high degree of success. Students should practice reading fluency to increase their decoding and word-recognition skills. Reading LevelStudents should not be asked to practice fluency with texts that are likely to be frustrating. Instead, teachers should determine the type of fluency practice each student needs (e.g., letters, sounds, words, sentences, passages).Here’s one method for determining appropriate reading levels:
Students at the independent reading level will be able to practice fluency activities alone or with peers. When a student at this level is working with his or her teacher, the fluency practice should be at the instructional level. If reading is at a frustrational level, then the level of text should be made easier. Or, if a student struggles with reading passages, then the passages should be shortened. Once a teacher has determined a student’s reading ability level, it is important to remember several critical things:
Research Shows
When Should I Teach It?Fluency instruction typically begins during the second half of first grade and continues through the third grade and beyond. Instructional TechniquesTeachers can use different instructional techniques for teaching fluency. With fluency instruction, teachers can help students understand that their reading should sound like natural speech, which should be quick, accurate, and with expression. Below are samples of fluency techniques.
Here are some helpful hints for incorporating reading fluency instruction in the classroom.
What is intonation in reading fluency?Intonation.
This refers to the way the reader changes the pitch, tone, and volume to reflect meaning as they read. When students read with that monotone voice aloud, chances are they read with that same monotone voice silents in their heads and are missing many comprehension moments.
What are the components of reading fluency?Reading fluency is the ability to read a text easily. Reading fluency actually has four parts: accuracy, speed, expression and comprehension. Each part is important, but no single part is enough on its own. A fluent reader is able to coordinate all four aspects of fluency.
What is it called when you read with expression?Fluency is defined as the ability to read with speed, accuracy, and proper expression.
What are the 5 components of fluency?Reading skills are built on five separate components: phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension.
|