Fluency Presentation and Forum in the Primary Grades Susan Libby & Jaime Quinn

What is reading fluency?  Fluency is the ability to read with speed, accuracy and proper expression.  In order to support better comprehension, children need to be able to read fluently whether they are reading aloud or silently.

Characteristics of a fluent reader  Reads in phrases  Adds intonation appropriately  Reading is smooth and has expression

Characteristics of a non-fluent reader  Reading is choppy  Lack of attention to punctuation  Sounds awkward  Takes a long time to read short passage  Loses their place  Reads with no expression  Grows frustrated or embarrassed with reading aloud

Our Focus  Improving Fluency  Decoding  Reading Speed and Smoothness

Decoding  Is the ability to apply your knowledge of letter sound relationships. Including knowledge of letter patterns, to correctly pronounce written words.  Decoding gives children the ability to recognize familiar words quickly and to figure out words they have not seen before.

Teachers  Structured and Explicate Phonics program  Use of manipulates to teach letter sound relationships  Memorization of high frequency and trick words  Engaging in reading and writing activities that relate to the current skill

Parents  Phonics Games  Memory  Go Fish  Bingo  Computer Software  Lexia  Leap Frog Series  Environmental Opportunities

Students  Using “Speed Bump Strategies”  Look at the picture  Read it again  Read on  Read slower  Read out loud  Think of words I know  Get my mouth ready  Look for a chunk  Sound out the word  Ask for help

Reading Speed and Smoothness  Reading speed rate determines how fast a child can get through a certain amount of text.  Word recognition is automatic, which allows the reader to focus on comprehension.  Kindergarten  First grade  Second Grade

Teachers  Assessing and monitoring  Book bags  Read alouds &Books on tapes  Reading short passages  Practice reading with emotions  Poetry &Reader’s Theater  Making Words video  Phrasing games SuperSpeed_1000.pdf SuperSpeed_1000.pdf  Punctuation games fluencypunctuationred.pdf fluencypunctuationred.pdf

Parent  Reading aloud  I read, you read  Choral reading  Echo reading  Wilson Fluency kits  Short passages/ Poetry  Check in with teacher

Students  At home book bags  Poetry  Develop own love of reading

Summary  Resources     #module #module  Special thanks to Carina Becker, Deb Kwiatek, Stacy Kress, and anyone else who helped to create the things that we didn’t.