Reading fluency is better thought of as an outcome of multiple, lower-level reading skills that when functioning in a synchronous and efficient manner, results in a smooth and expressive reading that is critical to understanding text. It has been extensively studied as an independent reading process. In this article, we define reading fluency, then emphasize its importance, along with the reading process necessary for fluent reading, and lastly, describe how tutoring can improve the reading fluency of children.
Fluency is the ability to read with a meaningful expression, proper speed, and accuracy.Fluent readers recognize words automatically, without facing decoding issues. Nonfluent readers, on the other hand, read slowly, make mistakes and read without appropriate expressions. They spend more time decoding, leaving less time for comprehension.
It has been recognised by researchers that fluency is an important aspect of reading. Research indicates that fluency is a critical building block of reading. This is because fluency development is directly related to comprehension.
When children can read fluently, it means that they can turn their attention to the meaning of the text instead of using brain power for decoding. And, when students reach higher levels of fluency, they are able to tap into metacognitive strategies, i.e. they can visualize, question, and interpret what they are reading, and can think about their feelings and opinions while reading text.
Phonological awareness refers to the ability to hear and manipulate the sounds of language at the word, syllable, and phoneme levels. Though it is not necessary to have phonemic awareness to acquire speech, it is necessary for learning to connect letters to speech sounds.
Orthographic mapping explains the formation of letter-sound connections to bond the spellings, pronunciations, and meanings of specific words in memory. It helps how children learn to read words by sight, spell words from memory, and acquire vocabulary words from print.
For example, if the student knows the spoken word /bed/, its pronunciation is stored in long-term memory. The child knows what it means and what it sounds like. But if the child has good phonemic awareness skills, the word can be pulled apart into its individual sounds (phonemes) /b/ /e/ /d/.
Developing the ability to hear and isolate phonemes within words (though critical), is insufficient for fast and accurate word recognition. Hence, to become a successful reader, the student must also gain an understanding of the pronunciation of the letter-sound combinations within words.
In reading, automaticity is the ability to effortlessly, rapidly, and accurately decode words. Readers in their early years can be accurate but slow. However, continued reading practice helps word recognition become more fast, effortless, and automatic.
Progress monitoring is where a tutor gives the child a specific, individual reading goal. Then depending on various parameters like - word reading, reading fluency, letter naming, phonological/phonemic awareness, letter-sound correspondence, and so on, measures the fluency.
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"Read With Us” is an online tutors' reading platform where struggling readers can improve their language, literacy, comprehension, and fluency skills. Reading Tutors at "Read With Us” help children to practice, and engage them in repeated reading. They
Use games: To increase knowledge of letter-sound correspondences and irregular word and blending skills.
Explicitly teach students how to ‘chunk’ words: To teach students how to chunk words into meaningful phrases, using punctuation as support. Not paying attention to punctuation can often change the meaning of the text. For example:
The children without their, toys feel sad. or The children, without their toys, feel sad.
Have children read the text more than once for a specific purpose: This is pivotal to increasing accuracy, reading rate, improving expression, and developing comprehension skills.
Encourage students to read with the expression: Online tutors can model reading to teach kids to read with expression.
In this article, we have discussed that fluent reading is the outcome of efficient reading processes that lead to the fast acquisition of several words that are recognised instantly on sight. Moreover, the acquisition of reading processes that support and then blossom into fluent reading is critical in developing students' motivation to engage in reading for learning and pleasure. Hence, if you are looking for an online reading tutor to improve your child’s reading fluency, look no further. Get in touch with a reading expert at "Read With Us” now.
