ABSTRACT
Fluency is not just speed. When teaching kids to read fluently, there are several aspects to consider, according to fluency researcher Tim Rasinski. Kids must be able to decode accurately in order to gain fluency. A second fluency component is automaticity in word recognition. Assessing fluency in words per minute is a quick, easy measure. Fluency is a bridge between phonics and comprehension. Fluency instruction and practice can help students improve in comprehension over time. This chapter presents examples of how we might think about grouping students, choosing a focus and matching texts, as well as what we might try in a variety of lessons. To assess a student's fluency, we'll want to listen to the child read a short bit of text aloud one-on-one.
