Learning & Teaching

Reading fluency and students' reading goals

Fluency is a child’s ability to read a book or other text with accuracy, at a reasonable rate, and with appropriate expression. Reading fluency is important because it provides a bridge between word recognition and comprehension.

Fluency develops gradually over time and through practice. At the earliest stage of reading development, students’ oral reading is slow and labored because students are just learning to “break the code” — to attach sounds to letters and to blend letter sounds into recognizable words.

Regular home reading supports reading fluency. In Prep and Grade 1 students will bring home what is called a decodable reader, a book for beginning readers that has the words and letter patterns the children have learnt in class. Instead of guessing or using the pictures to work out words, children use their knowledge of letter sounds to "decode" or sound out words. 

As children have learnt more of "the code", they recognize words automatically. They group words quickly to help them gain meaning from what they read. Fluent readers read aloud effortlessly and with expression. Their reading sounds natural, as if they are speaking.

TIP: Re-reading decodable books can build fluency, which is crucial before moving onto more complex texts.

Usually around mid to late Grade 1 and early Grade 2, once children have a strong grasp of most letters and sounds and can read words with ease, the focus of their reading can shift to comprehension, vocabulary expansion and understanding more complex storylines. 

These children are no longer concentrating on decoding the words, they can focus their attention on what the text means. They can make connections among the ideas in the text and their background knowledge. In other words, fluent readers recognise words and comprehend at the same time.

Home readers that are sent home in the junior levels support students with their reading goals and are meant to be on the easier side, allowing for confident independent reading and repeated practice. These books are also an opportunity for the children to apply their learned phonics, vocabulary and comprehension skills.

Here are some tips for how you can support your child to develop their reading fluency;

• read aloud daily to show your child a model of smooth, expressive reading
• encourage practice and repetition, especially when reading their home reader
• re-read your child's favourite books with them
• read books together, taking turns reading at each page
• talk about the book ~ before, during and after to support comprehension
• visit the library and encourage your child to borrow books from the school library

The students in Grade 1 to Grade 6 have reading goals related to fluency and practise these in scheduled times throughout the week in whole class, small group, partner or independent reading activities.

Some examples of students' reading fluency goals may be;

• I can read simple stories smoothly and use my voice to show full stops and questions.
• I can read grade-level books correctly, quickly and with expression that matches the story.
• I can read like I talk, with smoothness and expression so others understand.
• I can read longer texts fluently and show meaning through my voice.
• I can read smoothly and with expression so the meaning of complex sentences is clear.
• I can read complex texts fluently and use my voice to show meaning and purpose.

As students progress into the middle and upper grades of the school, they are able to borrow what we call "just right books" from the library or their teacher may provide them with a text they feel is suitable for fluency practice. 

It is important that no matter what grade your child is in, they engage in regular reading practice with a right fit book.  When children can read fluently, it’s easier for them to understand what they’re reading. And they read aloud or to themselves easily and with expression — this makes reading a lot more enjoyable!

Miss Claire - Deputy Principal and Learning & Teaching/Literacy Leader

claire.white@smfawkner.catholic.edu.au