Teaching fluency is crucial for developing proficient readers, as emphasized by Tim Rasinski. Fluency involves accurate, rapid word recognition and expressive reading. By mastering fluency, students read effortlessly, freeing cognitive resources for comprehension. This focus allows all students to be able to read with “flow” and experience success.

While three to four readings might be sufficient for most students, struggling readers often benefit from five to seven repetitions to achieve fluency.

Speed

For struggling readers, reading quickly enough to understand means developing fluency to balance speed and comprehension. They need to recognize words rapidly, allowing focus on meaning rather than decoding. This fluency helps them grasp main ideas and details without frustration. Improving this skill is crucial for academic success and makes reading more enjoyable and less overwhelming.

Prosody

Prosody refers to the rhythm, stress, and intonation of speech, crucial for effective oral reading and comprehension. It involves the expressive aspects of reading aloud, such as appropriate pacing, emphasis on certain words, and modulation of voice to convey meaning and emotion. Mastery of prosody enhances reading fluency, making the text more engaging and easier to understand for listeners.