What are the components of fluency?
There are three main components to oral reading fluency: speed or rate, accuracy, and prosody.
Accuracy is how accurately a child can read the words on the page.
This includes being able to read all the words correctly, as well as being able to read them in the correct order. Accuracy is probably the most crucial component of fluency for emergent readers. Without accuracy in their reading, it is challenging to build the other components of fluency—beginning readers whose accuracy is substantial progress much more quickly.
Speed/Rate is how fast a child can read.
This doesn’t just mean reading quickly – it also means reading at a rate that is appropriate for the level of difficulty of the text. A child who is reading fluently should be able to read smoothly, without hesitating or stumbling over words.
Prosody is how a child reads with expression.
Good prosody makes reading more exciting and engaging, and it also helps with reading comprehension. This includes using the correct intonation, stress, and rhythm when reading aloud. It also includes being able to read with feeling and emotion.
How do we measure reading fluency?
There are many ways to measure reading fluency. Some standard methods include timed readings, and miscue analysis.
Timed readings are when a child is given a certain amount of time to read a passage aloud. The goal is for the child to read as much of the passage as possible in the allotted time. This method can measure speed, but it doesn’t give any information on accuracy or prosody.
Miscue analysis is when a child reads aloud and is monitored for words read correctly. This method can measure accuracy and prosody, but it doesn’t give any information on speed.
What are some common standardized assessments for fluency?
There are multiple standardized tests and assessments that measure reading fluency, here are just a few:
MASI-R, Hasbrock and Tindal, Rasinkski, and many others.
However, one of the most respected assessments is the Texas Primary Reading Inventory (TPRI). The TPRI measures not only just fluency but can be used to measure multiple literacy skills and reading comprehension skills.
