RICA Competency 8 Fluency: Role in Reading Development and Factors that Affect the Development of Fluency

Introduction
  “There are three indicators of fluent reading: accuracy, rate and prosody. Fluent readers pronounce words correctly when reading orally. Fluent readers read a text at an appropriate rate of speed, neither too fast or too slow. Fluent readers read with appropriate expression and include emphasis of certain words, variation in pitch and pausing.” (RICA pg. 65-66)

Examples

Being a fluent reader is definitely something I pride myself and because it is something I am good at, I am very aware when others are fluent readers and also when they are not. Both of my tutees struggle with fluency mainly because English is not their first language. They read in a very monotone voice, they may switch words back and forth and they tend to rush through the words they know, only to stop for extra long pauses at the words they don’t. I think working with them on repeated readings will help them recognize words faster and then, by hearing me read the text as it should be read, hopefully allow them to pick up on those audible cues that every fluent reader should know. “There are many factors that can disrupt fluency; both a lack of word identification skills and a lack of comprehension can slow a reader down.” (RICA pg. 66) In the Learning to Read text we see that high frequency words are “grammatically necessary.” These words can be function words or content words and both are critical in achieving reading fluency. (Learning to Read pg. 257)   Differentiation IF a student has weak word analysis skills, THEN the teacher might need to lower the reading level down so they are still comprehending what they are reading. (pg. 66) IF a student does not read with fluency THEN the teacher should focus on their familiarity with content vocabulary. (pg. 67) IF a student does not have basic phonic skills THEN the teacher will need to review these skills as well as high frequency sight words in order to increase their fluency.

  
Assessments 

Student will complete times oral readings and teacher will calculate words correct per minute to help determine fluency rate.