Fluency in reading refers to the ability to read a text accurately, quickly, and with expression. It is a critical building block of reading, as fluency development is directly related to comprehension. Fluent reading builds stamina for reading lengthy or complex texts and serves as a bridge between word recognition and comprehension. There are three main elements in reading fluency: accuracy, rate, and expression. Accuracy is the fundamental foundation of fluent reading, and it is important for children to be able to read words easily without having to stop and decode them by sounding them out or breaking them into chunks. Rate refers to the speed at which a student reads, and expression refers to the ability to read phrases and add in proper intonation when needed. To achieve reading fluency, readers must have knowledge of the content of the language as well as the vocabulary being used.
Interventions designed to help children learn to read fluently generally include some form of repeated reading, but this process may differ for children with learning disabilities, who may struggle with reading fluency. Practicing early reading fluency helps the student become familiar with more complex and high-frequency words, which then helps them to master a significant number of words.
In summary, fluency in reading is the ability to read a text accurately, quickly, and with expression. It is a critical building block of reading, as fluency development is directly related to comprehension. There are three main elements in reading fluency: accuracy, rate, and expression. Interventions designed to help children learn to read fluently generally include some form of repeated reading, but this process may differ for children with learning disabilities, who may struggle with reading fluency.
