📚 The following information on Fluency has been taken from the website readingrockets.org. We hope that this helps you with understanding the skill of Fluency and the importance of creating fluent readers.
Fluency
Fluency is defined as the ability to read with speed, accuracy, and proper expression. In order to understand what they read, children must be able to read fluently whether they are reading aloud or silently. When reading aloud, fluent readers read in phrases and add intonation appropriately, their reading is smooth and has expression.
Children who do not read with fluency sound choppy and awkward. Those students may have difficulty with decoding skills or they may just need more practice with speed and smoothness in reading. Fluency is also important for motivation; children who find reading laborious tend not to want read! As readers head into upper elementary grades, fluency becomes increasingly important. The volume of reading required in the upper elementary years escalates dramatically. Students whose reading is slow or laboured will have trouble meeting the reading demands of their grade level.
What parents can do to help at home:
Support and encourage your child. Realise that he or she is likely frustrated by reading.
Check with your child's teachers to find out their assessment of your child's word decoding skills.
If your child can decode words well, help him or her build speed and accuracy by:
Reading aloud and having your child match his voice to yours
Having your child practice reading the same list of words, phrase, or short passages several times
Reminding your child to pause between sentences and phrases
Read aloud to your child to provide an example of how fluent reading sounds.
Give your child books with predictable vocabulary and clear rhythmic patterns so the child can "hear" the sound of fluent reading as he or she reads the book aloud.
Use books on tapes; have the child follow along in the print copy.
