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Reading Fluency & Expression

reading fluency

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

overview reading

 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

teaching reading

 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

assessing reading

 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: Amplifying Students’ Voices in Oral Reading (Virtual Tour)

 

Reader’s Theater: Building Fluency in Third Grade

 

Chants, Poems and Reader’s Theater: Building Fluency in the Upper Grades (Virtual Tour)

All Reading Fluency & Expression Recipes

Reader's Theater: Building Fluency and Expression Reader's Theater: Building Fluency and Expression
1st - 6th
Read to Someone: A Component Of The Daily Five Read to Someone: A Component Of The Daily Five
K - 6th
Pick a Part!: Improving Reading Fluency Pick a Part!: Improving Reading Fluency
2nd - 3rd
The Daily Five: Fostering Literacy Independence in Pre-Kindergarten The Daily Five: Fostering Literacy Independence in Pre-Kindergarten
PreK - 6th
Running Records: Assessing and Improving Students' Reading Fluency and Comprehension Running Records: Assessing and Improving Students' Reading Fluency and Comprehension
K - 3rd