Components of Oral Reading Fluency
"Oral reading fluency means more than reading accurately and quickly." - Timothy Rasinski
Oral reading fluency practice is often associated with reading instruction in the primary grades. However, it is just, if not more, important in the middle grades. Students who read fluently can focus their attention on comprehending and making sense of their text, which is what reading is all about. What should oral reading fluency sound or look like in the 7th grade? Components of Oral Reading Fluency Rate/Pace/Speed: The average reading rates are as follows: Fall of 7th Grade (November): 156-180-177 WCPM (words correct per minute) Winter of 7th Grade (February): 165-192 WCPM Spring of 7th Grade (May): 177-202 WCPM In order to determine your child’s reading rate, have him/her read a short selection of text.
Determine how many words he/she has read. (Make sure to time your child as he/she reads aloud!)
Multiply this number by 60 (seconds in a minute).
Divide by how many seconds it took your child to read the passage.
This mathematical formula will provide you with your child’s current reading rate. Automaticity: Words are recognized and decoded instantaneously. ** Remember fast, automatic reading does not equal to fluent reading. Your child may be able to read a selection of text automatically and at an above average speed, but this does not mean he/she is a fluent reader. In order to be fluent, ALL components of fluency need to be present!** Expression: Your child should be able to change the tone of his/her voice (moving one's voice up and down) as they read. Your child’s voice is not flat, monotone, or sounds like a robot. Feelings, as well as select, important words, are emphasized throughout the text. Volume: Your child’s voice should be at a conversational volume – not too soft, but not too loud either. His /her voice is filled with confidence as they speak. Phrasing/Smoothness: Words are grouped together into meaningful phrases and are not read one. word. at. a. time. You child does not hesitate, repeat, or stumble on individual words or sentences. Instead, there is a natural, consistent flow to their reading. Punctuation: Your child pays attentions to punctuation marks. He/she stops briefly when they see a period (.), pauses for commas (,), raises his/her voice for question marks (?), shows excitement or enthusiasm for exclamation points (!), changes their tone of voice or his/her sound of voice for words in “quotation marks.” **Paying attention to punctuation also assists with readers’ phrasing, smoothness, and expression.** Final Note: As you listen to your child read at home, be mindful of all the components of oral reading fluency. Chances are your child has many strengths, but may need some improvement in one or two of the above areas. Work with and encourage your child to develop that particular area of fluency – it could be him/her making more of an effort to read louder (volume), stopping briefly whenever him/her see a period (punctuation), or chunking words together (phrasing). Whatever the case may be, keep in mind that PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT! Stay tuned for my next feature article, which will present strategies to help your child improve his/her oral reading fluency at home! Happy (Fluent) Reading! Ms. Meluso
