What is Fluency?
Fluency refers to the ability to read a text both quickly and accurately. Fluency connects decoding words to reading comprehension, because when a student can recognize words automatically, they can focus their attention on the meaning of the text. Automaticity is sometimes used interchangeably with fluency, but they are not the same thing. Automaticity refers only to accurate, speedy word recognition. Fluency also includes reading with appropriate expression.
Research proves that repeated and monitored oral reading improves fluency. Guidance and feedback should be provided when students are reading and rereading texts orally. Repeated reading improves word recognition, speed, and accuracy as well as fluency. Students should reread a text until a certain level of fluency is reached. Some strategies that can be used for rereading are student-adult reading, choral reading, tape-assisted reading, partner reading, and readers' theatre. There is currently no research available that supports improvement in fluency from independent or silent reading. However independent reading is still appropriate in the classroom during transitional periods when the student has finished one activity and is waiting for the next to begin.
Check out the video below from readingprograms.org for more information on fluency: