10 Research-Based Fluency Strategies to Improve Your Child’s Reading Fluency

Every day, we talk a lot about the significance of phonics in our kids' academic lives. We are always searching for word and alphabet-based activities for our kids. We are fully aware that only reading is optional. Comprehension, too, deserves significant attention. However, in all this, we often overlook the importance of fluency.


Let us first understand what reading fluency exactly means. Then, we will dive deep into the strategies to improve it.

What is Reading Fluency?

Reading fluency is the reader's capability to read the text properly. He should read at the right speed, with accuracy and appropriate expression. Do you know what a reading fluency struggle is? Does your child trip over words? Does he/she read like this – "He. Is. My. Best. Friend?" or does he/she read without taking a breath like- "hisnameisarunheismybestfriend'?

If this is the case, it is time to make them understand the importance of fluency. Always remember that better fluency leads to a great understanding.

Here are some ways to improve your child's reading fluency.

1) Teach Through Modeling

There is a prerequisite to understanding the concept of fluent reading. Your child must first hear and comprehend what fluent reading sounds like. If they do so, they can quickly transfer those experiences into their reading.

There is a powerful way for you to improve your kid's reading fluency. You can read aloud with them often and with proper tone and emotion. Include different genres such as poetry, stories, and speeches. These will grab the child's attention and draw them into the reading experience. Also, keep encouraging them to share their thoughts.

2) Practice Makes Perfect

Achieving reading fluency requires practice. Expert readers were not born that way. They worked hard to achieve their ability to read fluently. The ultimate goal of reading fluency is to read fluently, which requires effort and time.

Therefore, you can tell your child to read the same passage repeatedly. This will accelerate reading fluency.

3) Use Audio Recordings

Audiobook investment is one of the fantastic ways to improve your child's reading fluency. Your child can listen to their favourite book often without having you read it a million times.

Your child can listen to books on tape or CD and follow along as someone reads them. You can even record your voice as you read aloud to your child.

4) Do Paired Reading

You can make paired reading a daily practice within your literacy block. This will help make your child a fluent reader. You can read an alternate sentence with your child or read aloud together to do a paired reading.

For paired reading, use a book or passage that is short.

5) Try Echo Reading

Echo reading is a type of fluent modelling. In it, you read a sentence to your child and have him/her read it back to you with the same tone and emotions you used.

Echo reading helps your child recognize words. This will also help anchor essential words in their vocabulary.

6) Identify Their Trouble Areas

Fluency, speed, precision, and prosody are building blocks in reading. When you listen to your child read, note how your child performs. Check where he is doing well and where he is struggling? Try to focus on the area where your child needs help the most.

7) Create a Stress-free Environment

If your child enjoys a book, anxiety and stress will be reduced. This, in turn, will improve the child's reading fluency. You can create a relaxing environment in several ways. Removing deadlines, time limits and evaluation-related goals are a few of them.

8) Try Different Font and Text Sizes

You can experiment with different fonts and text sizes. This will help with fluency difficulty caused by a visual impairment. Sometimes, larger text or text printed on colour-tinted paper can solve the issue.

A few types of fonts are more appropriate for people with learning abilities. Their typography helps with discerning letters and interpreting language.

9) Opt for the Reading Fluency Improvement Program

You can enrol in a reading fluency improvement program if your child needs an extra boost. You can enlist tutors to help your kid so your kid can get one-on-one support.

10) Build Rock-Solid Sight Word Vocabulary

Core words are the building blocks of a child's reading and writing skills. If your child cannot quickly recognize the familiar words, he/she will surely stumble. The reason is simple- he/she will try to sound out everything he/she reads.

Signing Off

The above discussed are just a few of the ways that you can use to improve reading fluency and make it fun and engaging for your child. With these tips and tricks, your child will be on the road to becoming a stronger reader quickly.

Do you use any other ideas related to your child's distinctive personality and character? Share your tips, thoughts, views, and suggestions in the comment section below.