Best Practices - Fluency In the Classroom

Practicing fluency isn't just for the lower elementary grades. Schools typically only monitor fluency until the end of third grade, however evidence has shown that students, even in fourth and fifth grade benefit from practicing reading out loud. Vaughn (2022) for The Institute of Education Sciences states that students should still be practicing their fluency. More importantly, communicating with the students the purpose of reading the same passage several times (Vaughn, 2022). For example, the first time reading the passage, have students read focusing on their pacing. Next, have students identify unknown words, then move on to practicing reading with expression. Teachers can follow up asking reflecting questions getting the students to think about how they improved in pacing and expression. 

I have included short video clips of students in 3rd grade practicing their reading fluency. Notice how they are sitting. Students should be facing each other sitting knee to knee. I tell them that when they are reading their voice (sound waves) carries through the air and into the ears of your reading partner (that's why our ears stick out a little to catch the sound waves :). Students take turns reading, both following along using fingers, eyes, and and brains, listening to the reader.