Reading Fluency & Expression
What the experts say about reading fluency & expression:
If text is read in a laborious and inefficient manner, it will be difficult for the child to remember what has been read and to relate the ideas expressed in the text to his or her background knowledge. ~ National Reading Panel
By reading aloud with expression, teachers model for students meaningful, fluent reading. ~ Timothy Rasinski
A beginning reader must link letters to sounds, pay attention to spelling patterns, and figure out how these patterns work. The process is slow and analytical at the beginning.~ J. Richard Gentry
Read more about reading fluency & expression!
What Works in Fluency Instruction
Fluency: Instructional Guidelines and Student Activities
Test 1
Test 2
OVERVIEW of reading fluency & expression
Fluent readers recognize words quickly and read with good pacing and expression. They do not have to concentrate on figuring out each word, and can focus their attention on what the text means. Fluent readers tend to have better comprehension. The more fluency students develop, the better their comprehension will be. Although with practice word reading can become automatic, comprehension does not.
TEACHING reading fluency & expression
It is important for students to have many opportunities to read aloud to adults and peers. Activities that encourage students to re-read texts, like reader’s theater build reading fluency. One of the goals is for students’ oral reading to sound natural, like they are talking. The texts that students use to practice should be in their “comfort zone” – not too easy, and not too difficult.
ASSESSING reading fluency & expression
Teachers can assess reading fluency by listening to students read brief grade level passages. As you listen to students read consider the following: Does the student’s reading sound natural and smooth with pauses in the right places (as if he or she is talking)? Does the student make frequent errors? Does the student read slowly, word by word? Track student progress throughout the year.
Featured Videos
Fluency Phones:
VIDEO
Reader’s Theater:
VIDEO
Chants, Poems and Reader’s Theater:
VIDEO
All Reading Fluency & Expression Recipes
Reader's Theater: Building Fluency and Expression
Read to Someone: A Component Of The Daily Five
Pick a Part!: Improving Reading Fluency
The Daily Five: Fostering Literacy Independence in Pre-Kindergarten
Running Records: Assessing and Improving Students' Reading Fluency and Comprehension
The Great Kapok Tree: Developing Fluency with Reader's Theater
Concentrating on Sight Words: Promoting Reading and Writing Fluency
Pal Reading: Developing Fluency and Comprehension with Paired Reading
Time to Shine: Improving Fluency Through Performance Café
Share That Poem!: Rereading Poems to Enhance Fluency
The Daily Five: Fostering Literacy Independence in Third and Fourth Grade (Virtual Tour)
CAFÉ: Engaging Third and Fourth Grade Students in Assessment and Instruction (Virtual Tour)
Guided Reading: Promoting Fluency and Comprehension in Third and Fourth Grade (Virtual Tour)
Gathering Place: Promoting Independent Reading and Comprehension Strategies (Virtual Tour)
The Daily Five: Fostering Literacy Independence in Second Grade (Virtual Tour)
Fluency Phones: Amplifying Students' Voices in Oral Reading (Virtual Tour)
Chants, Poems and Reader's Theater: Building Fluency in the Upper Grades (Virtual Tour)
Behind the Mask: Developing Script Writing through Art (Virtual Tour)
The Daily Five: Fostering Literacy Independence in Second Grade (Virtual Tour)
CAFÉ: Engaging Second Grade Students in Assessment and Instruction (Virtual Tour)
Read to Self in Second Grade: A Component of the Daily Five (Virtual Tour)
Read To Someone in Second Grade: A Component Of The Daily Five (Virtual Tour)
Guided and Independent Reading: Running Records (Virtual Tour)
Paired Reading: Building Reading Fluency
Wheel of Fortune: A Word Wall Activity
Fun with Predictable Stories: Developing Concepts of Print
Be a Mind Reader: A Word Wall Activity
Word Cheers: A Word Wall Activity
High Frequency Words Review: Promoting Reading and Writing Fluency
How to Use CAFÉ : Involving Students in Building Essential Reading Skills
Tricky Words Strategies: Promoting the Flexible Use of Word-Solving Strategies
Partner Reading: Developing Reading Fluency
Listening to Reading: A Component Of The Daily Five
Search-A-Word: Improving Word Recognition and Spelling
Read to Self: A Component Of The Daily Five
At-a-Glance Words: Improving Word Recognition
Practicing Poetry: Developing Fluency at the Poetry Center (Virtual Tour)
Reading in Kindergarten: Promoting the Enjoyment of Reading (Virtual Tour)
Guided and Independent Reading: Personal Boxes (Virtual Tour)
Guided and Independent Reading: Browsing Bins (Virtual Tour)
Guided Reading: Promoting Fluency and Comprehension in First Grade (Virtual Tour)
Book Bins: Reading Practice from Personal Book Bins (Virtual Tour)
Practicing Being a Good Reader: Using Success Criteria in Kindergarten (Virtual Tour)
Easy Reads: Books that Build Confidence and Motivation (Virtual Tour)
Reading for Growth and Self-Reflection: A Unit of Study Based on the Novel Holes, by Louis Sachar (Virtual Tour)
Stories and More!: Motivation for Reading at the Listening Center (Virtual Tour)
Elbow to Elbow, Knee to Knee: Reading Bob Books with a Partner (Virtual Tour)
Toobaloo and Echo Mic: Using Tools to Engage Readers and Develop Fluency (Virtual Tour)
Empower Reading Program Assessment: Assessing Students' Reading Progress Throughout the Year (Virtual Tour)
Developmental Reading Assessment: Assessing Students' Reading Progress Throughout the Year (Virtual Tour)
The Ginger Bread Boy: Developing Fluency and Expression (Virtual Tour)
Echo Reading, Cloze Reading, and Vocabulary Discussion: Practicing Reading Strategies (Virtual Tour)
Chicka, Chicka, Boom, Boom: Shared Reading in Kindergarten
Daily 5 Choices: Fostering Independence in Reading and Writing (Virtual Tour)
Technology in the Listening Center: Motivating Literacy with iPads and QR Code Books (Virtual Tour)
Guided Reading: Differentiating Instruction with Skill- and Strategy-Focused Groupings (Virtual Tour)
What's the Text Message?: Modeling Reading Strategies through Shared Reading Activities (Virtual Tour)
FACE of a Reader: Teaching Reading Strategies Based on The CAFE Menu (Virtual Tour)
Literacy CAFE in First Grade: Fostering Independence using a Menu of Strategies (Virtual Tour)
The Daily 5 in First Grade: Engaging Students with a Balanced Literacy Approach (Virtual Tour)
Document Camera for Shared Reading: Supporting the Development of Decoding and Fluency (Virtual Tour)
Good Fit Books in First Grade: Developing Skill and a Love for Reading through Appropriate Choices (Virtual Tour)
Leveled Books in First Grade: Personalized Book Bins Increase Independence in Young Readers (Virtual Tour)
Guided Reading in First Grade: Increasing Fluency and Comprehension with Small Group Instruction (Virtual Tour)
Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA): Motivating Young Readers by Tracking and Celebrating Progress (Virtual Tour)
Word Wall in First Grade: Building Sight Recognition and Spelling of High-Frequency Words (Virtual Tour)
The A in The CAFE: Improving Reading Accuracy using Meaning and Decoding Strategies (Virtual Tour)
The F in The CAFE: Building Fluent Readers who Read with Ease, Accuracy and Expression (Virtual Tour)
Book Buddies that Work!: Implementing the Strategy WELL Benefits Everyone (Virtual Tour)
Choosing 'Just Right' Books: Selecting Books Based on Levels and Genres (Virtual Tour)
Timed Repeated Reading: Building Fluency by Rereading Text
Building Community with Parents: Reading Logs (Virtual Tour)
Reader's Theater: Building Fluency and Expression
