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Fluency is the rate at which one can recognize and read words accurately. It is also a strong predictor of how a student will score on high-stake assessments.

Fluency is crucial because it provides a bridge between word recognition and comprehension. Because fluent readers no longer have to concentrate on decoding the words, they can focus their attention on what the text means.

What constitutes a fluent reader? Its someone who can accurately decode, have automatic word recognition and uses appropriate use of prosodic features such as stress, pitch and suitable phrasing.

Children should not be working on fluency until they have mastered the basic skills of reading first.

Research has shown that reading instruction that focuses on learning the basic skills greatly out perform "fluff" type of reading instruction activities, such as using music, art and other non-reading activities to teach reading.

Reading rate and accuracy are considered the most important issues that influence comprehension.

Students with fluency problems seem to read "word by word", slow, halting and its very laborious.

Most reading instructors evaluate fluency by how many words correct the child can read per minute and comprehend the information with 80% accuracy. Numerous charts have been developed to determine what an acceptable reading fluency should be. Below is one such chart. It should be used with caution because other factors such as interest, prior knowledge, motivation, students perception of the importance of fluency, difficulty of reading selection and purpose can influence results.

Grade 1 a child should be able to read grade level material, orally at 50 words correct per minute. WCPM Silent reading should be 50 WCPM

Grade 2. a child should be reading grade level material, orally at 85 words correct per minute. WCPM Silent reading should be 85 WCPM

Grade 3 a child should be reading grade level material, orally at 110 words correct per minute. Silent reading should be 120 WCPM

Grade 4 a child should be reading grade level materia,l orally at 120 words correct per minute. Silent reading should be 140 WCPM

Grade 5 a child should be reading grade level material, orally at 130 words correct per minute. Silent reading should be 155 WCPM

Grade 6 a child should be reading grade level material, orally at 145 words correct per minute. Silent reading should be 180 WCPM

Grade 7 a child should be reading grade level material, orally at 155 words correct per minute. Silent reading should be 200 WCPM

Grade 8 a child should be reading grade level material, orally at 160 words correct per minute. Silent reading should be 220 WCPM

Grade 9 a child should be reading grade level material, orally at 170 words correct per minute. Silent reading should be 240 WCPM

Grade 10 a child should be reading grade level material, orally at 175 words correct per minute. Silent reading should be 260 WCPM

Grade 11 a child should be reading grade level material at 175 words correct per minute. Silent reading should be 270 WCPM

Grade 12 a child should be reading grade level material at 180 words correct per minute. Silent reading should be 280-300 WCPM