Improving reading fluency is something every parent, teacher, and child is concerned about whether they know it or not.
In fact, improving reading fluency is necessary for your child to master in early elementary. After all, it’s the ability to read effortlessly, accurately, and quickly with expression. Fluency is as important as knowing phonics, understanding the sight words, and comprehending what is written. For example, kids who read aloud, in small parts, and add appropriate expression and intonation sound natural, just like they speak.
Do you know who needs help improving reading fluency?
Sabrina! Because she struggles with reading, and you want to improve it!
If you are living with a reader who trips over words and you feel like reading for her is painful and awkward, don’t get disheartened.
As a matter of fact, I knew a reader who reads just like he speaks – my former student James. But, hereadswithoutabreath and I had to remind him to pay attention, read with expression, and follow the inflection in his voice.
Here’s a list of strategies to help your child improve reading fluency. These strategies can be implemented by pairing a younger and an older child, or a lower-level reader with a higher-level reader.
1. Read aloud
As long as your kid can hear somebody speaking fluently, there are more chances for her to understand how can she read fluently. Lead by example and read it out loud in front of your kid and often with expression. Generally, kids first hear words and then understand their reading sounds and implement fluency.
2. Try choral reading
Next, pick one short paragraph that your kid can read alone. Have a copy for yourself. When they finish reading, read the passage out louder for them to hear. Then, ask them to follow along with their finger as you read. After finishing the reading, read it together and try to match your expression and speed.
3. Work on Phonemic Awareness
Many of the kids have difficulty with reading fluently because they can’t recognize the words and how the chunks of words are manipulated to create new ones.
To overcome this trouble, I have made this video to improve the reading fluency of your little munchkin.
4. Have your kid listen and follow audio recordings
A huge listening library can be a perfect choice. For example, you can borrow audiobooks from a library and add them to your listening center. These recordings contain the voices of professional voice actors and they improve your kid’s expressions and phrasing along with the pace and tone of the skilled readers.
5. Use playful activities to practice sight words
When kids can recognize words by sight, they’re less probable to sound like choppy readers. You can use printables and other games to practice sight words.
6. Practice repeated reading
Both choral reading and echo reading are examples of repeated reading. For example. you can pick a small paragraph of 100-200 words and ask your kid to repeat the words after you. Then, you can set a timer and ask your kid to note how many words he/she reads in 1-2 minutes. Also, make a graph to show your kid’s progress.
Improving Reading Fluency
Lastly, the ideal way to work on improving reading fluency for your kid is by motivating them to read more often while keeping accuracy, speed, and expression in mind. Remember, practice makes perfect!
