Science of Reading (SoR)

Reading Fluency

Reading fluency is a critical aspect of the Science of Reading, a research-based approach to teaching literacy skills. Fluency refers to the ability to read smoothly, accurately, and with appropriate expression. It is necessary for comprehension, as readers who struggle with fluency often have difficulty understanding the meaning of the text.

The Science of Reading emphasizes the importance of developing reading fluency as early as possible, through systematic instruction in phonics and word recognition skills. By mastering these foundational skills, students can read words effortlessly, allowing them to devote more attention to understanding the meaning of the text.

One key strategy for promoting fluency is repeated reading. This involves reading the same text multiple times, with a focus on improving speed, accuracy and expression. Teachers can also provide feedback and support to help students identify and correct errors in their reading.

Another important aspect of fluency is prosody, or the ability to use appropriate expression and intonation while reading. Prosody helps to convey the meaning of the text and makes reading more engaging and enjoyable for both the reader and the listener.

In addition to phonics and word recognition skills, fluency is also influenced by other factors, such as vocabulary knowledge, background knowledge and motivation. Therefore, it is important for teachers to provide a supportive and engaging reading environment, with access to a wide variety of high-quality texts.

At St Augustine’s College, the Foundation to Year 8 classes have begun to incorporate a systematic repeated paired reading routine throughout the week to improve reading fluency. Thus far, students have been engaged in reading fluency sessions and have increased on-task reading time dramatically compared to that of previous independent reading routines. 

Overall, reading fluency is a critical component of the Science of Reading, and effective instruction in this area can help promote reading comprehension and overall literacy success.