The Four Elements of Reading Fluency at All Saints 

Reading Fluency is defined as "accurate reading at a minimal rate with appropriate prosodic features and deep understanding" (Hudson, Mercer, & Lane, 2000).

Myth: The correct words per minute is all that matters in reading.

 Fact: Fluency includes accuracy, rate, prosody, and comprehension. 

These four elements each contribute to reading fluency and, at All Saints, we focus on these areas in our reading lessons. Below you will find definitions of each of these elements which you can focus on at home in order to support your child with their reading and fluency development.

ACCURACY 

The first element in becoming a fluent reader is accurate reading. Although fluent readers may make minor errors, they will still have a 95% accuracy rate. In KS1, children are taught to decode and this is the first step in children becoming accurate readers.

RATE 

Fluent readers do not read as fast as they can, they read with accuracy and a focus on the details of the information/story they are reading. Reading rates will vary from one child to another, if you are concerned about the rate in which your child is reading, please contact their class teacher.

PROSODY 

Using appropriate prosodic skills and features when reading ensure that, when children read aloud, they use expression with appropriate rhythm, intonation, phrasing, and stress patterns of syllables, this then makes the reading experience more interesting for the reader and the audience. Children should be immersed in what they are reading and it should be interesting when listening to a child read. Research on prosody in reading shows that focus on prosodic features can improve overall reading skills faster than a focus on speed of the reader.

COMPREHENSION 

The point of reading is to be able to learn something new. There is a correlation between fluency and comprehension. The mistaken belief is if you increase the rate or speed a child reads, the comprehension automatically improves. However, a child who develops their reading rate whilst improving on the four elements identified, becomes a more fluent reader and therefore demonstrates more effective comprehension skills.