Reading fluency is an important skill for students to master. If a student has difficulty in this area he usually has problems with reading comprehension as well.

Developing fluency skills can be difficult when a child is concentrating on making out a word. In this case, it is very important to concentrate on decoding skills first before tackling fluency.

There are two techniques that that are generally used when teaching a child reading fluency skills. The first is guided and oral repeated reading. This encourages children to read texts out loud with efficient and clear assistance and feedback from you as their teacher. Research has shown this to be an effective method. The second technique is silent reading alone both in and out of school. This persuades children to read passages alone silently without the helpful guidance that is provided with oral repetitive reading. Studies done on this method have shown that there were no significant results.

The best and least expensive way for your child to learn fluent reading is to sit them down and just work on reading passages together and give him constructive feedback. Have him read a passage two to three times until he can read it without any significant pauses. After enough practice he should be able to read the passage as if he were speaking it to you. The repetitive practice will help him hear how fluent reading should sound. As the old saying goes “Practice makes perfect.”

To help your child become a better reader, provide him with a model of fluent reading. Model a passage and have the child repeat it back to you. This will help him learn how it is supposed to be done. He will learn how a reader’s voice can help a text be comprehended more easily. Have him read a passage two or three times until he can read it without significant pauses. Read to your child daily for modeling purposes.

If you are working with a classroom or have more than one child, choral reading is another great way to gain reading fluency. Choral reading is having the children read in unison, together as a group. You can start by reading the passage aloud and then repeating asking the children to join in. Continue reading and rereading the passage encouraging the kids to read along, as they are able. They should read the passage at least three times but not so many times that they become bored with it.

Partner reading is another good way to help your child or children read more fluently. With this type of practice you can pair a child with a more fluent reader. The more experienced reader can read the first passage or page of the book first to show how it should be read. Then the less experienced reader should then read the same passage or page of the book. After the child is done reading have the more fluent reader give constructive criticism and encouragement to the child. You can also have two children of the same level read as partners. You can start by reading the passage or page to show the children how it should be read and then let them start practicing reading it between themselves while you guide them.

You can use Readers Theater as another fun way to practice reading fluently. In Readers Theater the children can practice reading and memorizing a skit and then perform it in front of other family members or friends. If there is more than one child they can play different characters saying the script back and forth. This is a good excuse for getting children to reread to help them practice fluency in reading.

Marie Rippel is the author of All About Spelling, the spelling program that is guaranteed to work. For more information, see these articles on literacy.