Second Grade is the Perfect Age Where Fluency Should Develop

In Kindergarten and First Grade students learn to decode or sound out words. Hopefully by the end of first grade, the first grader will have many words they are able to read quickly. When this happens the student is able to move on and develop fluency skills. When a student reads there are three important components to reading: speed, accuracy, and expression. Fluency is the speed at which a student reads. A teacher hopes that the student is able to read and sound as if he/she is talking. There are many activities that can develop good fluency skills.

Partner Reading Improves Fluency and Builds Confidence

Pair two students to read together. One student should have a slightly higher reading level than the other and serve as the model reader. One student reads a page or paragraph and then the other student takes a turn. As they take turns the better reader serves as a model and provides support to the other student. Students often find it more fun to read to read with other students than in front of the teacher.

Readers Theatre is a Fun Way to Build Fluency

Many stories have dialogue and can be made into a readers theatre story, or a play. Sometimes a teacher may need to change the story a little to give dialogue. By searching online there are many popular stories that have been made into Readers Theatre already. Assign parts and have the students practice. Reading the parts over and over will be fun for the student and they will be building fluency skills without even realizing it.

Reading Text a Little Below a Student's Reading Level will Build Fluency

In order to build fluency a student should be reading text that is easy for him. Most words should be known and a few difficult words can be included in the text. The Five Finger Rule is good to use. When a students chooses a new book start reading one page. For every word he doesn't know have him hold up one finger. If he gets to five fingers before the end of the first page, that book is too hard and he should choose a different book.

Reading the Same Text Over and Over will Improve Fluency

I made a fluency folder for each of my students. I put a story for each week of the school year. I found a summary of almost every reading anthology story in the English Language Learners section of my Language Art program. Any short story at reading level would be good though. Every morning we read the short story together and then the students read it by themselves. Some days the students read the passage in partner groups. By the end of the week almost all students can read the passage independently and with good fluency.

Fluency is an Important Skill for a Student to Have

Fluency is very important for a student to develop. If a student can read the words quickly they can focus more on comprehension. If a student struggles with reading each word, they will not develop a love for reading. Students who find reading easy and fun tend to do better in school overall. Partner reading is a fun way for students to spend time together and help each other. Students love to take a part in a play and Readers Theatre gives them that opportunity. When a student reads text that is easy for them they are finding reading more enjoyable and building fluency skills. By adding a few fluency activities into a school day, the teacher is helping the students learn that reading is fun and very rewarding.