Description
In 2002, this guide was modified from the original version. The revised edition was developed in conjunction with the Texas Education Agency Division of Curriculum and Professional Development.
Because fluent readers read accurately and effortlessly, they are able to focus their energies on understanding, interpreting, analyzing, and critiquing what they read. Students who are not fluent readers primarily focus on decoding word by word and are less able to understand and enjoy what they read.
This professional development guide is designed to introduce audiences to: (a) fluency and its importance to reading success; (b) activities for fostering fluency; and (c) approaches to monitoring children’s reading fluency.
The guide contains four sections of materials:
- The presenter notes section contains detailed notes to accompany each presentation slide with suggestions on how to guide participants through the workshop.
- The presentation slides offer key points — available as color transparencies or as an Adobe PDF presentation.
- The handouts section includes pages with snapshots of presentations slides for participants to take notes, activity handouts for group activities, and other resources.
- The references section provides a list of references and resources on fluency.
Special Education Adaptations
An earlier version of this guide, Reading Fluency: Principles for Instruction and Progress Monitoring, was produced in 2000. It contains general adaptations (i.e., instructional design, instruction and curricula, behavioral support) and specific adaptations (e.g., fluency for struggling readers; creating readers theatre for repeated reading) that will benefit struggling readers and writers, including students with disabilities. It was developed in conjunction with the Texas Education Agency Division of Special Education.