Fluency is described as a bridge between decoding and comprehension. If readers do not develop adequate levels of fluency, they become stuck in the middle of the bridge. They are to decode words but have insufficient fluency skills to adequately facilitate comprehension or to enjoy reading.
"As an O-G tutor, I work with students who struggle with fluency. In September 2021, I took Lynn Givens’ “Fluency” course, and as suggested, began directly and explicitly teaching my students the four strategies outlined in the course. I modeled fluent reading and had my students use Lynn’s rubric for assessment. By October, I was using the rubric to measure their accuracy, rate, and prosody. Each student was graphing his own WCPM results. In every case, I was already seeing measurable improvements. As the year progressed, I saw growth in my students’ reading stamina. I noted they were all reading with greater confidence. I completed a final rubric and WCPM assessment for each student, and I couldn't believe the growth each had achieved. One 6th grader, whose struggle with fluency was the catalyst for me taking this course, tripled his WCPM results! His rubric was filled with 3’s and 4’s with smooth phrasing, attention to punctuation, and enhanced prosody. This course gave me the tools I needed to help my students make strides toward becoming more fluent readers. Their improvements are the evidence to support my recommendation."
- L Peterson, OG tutor, 2022
