Fluency Chart for Homework Folders

In my past post where I share a Free Fluency Rubric, I also talk about the importance of daily fluency practice for kids. As a former Literacy Interventionist and in-home private tutor, I saw first hand how a student's fluency rate can increase over time when opportunities for daily practice are provided. There are varying reasons why some students do not become fluent readers as easily as others, which include but are not limited to:

• An inability to decode words due to a lack of explicit instruction in phonics rules

• Weaknesses in phoneme awareness (the sounds that make up words)

• Minimal opportunities to engage in print

Here is a fluency chart you can use with your students.

How To Use A Fluency Chart

One way to help build strong readers is to include fluency practice in your homework packet. Here is one way to use the chart provided:

• Complete a cold read with each student (or have a parent volunteer assist with this task) and write down the words per minute (WPM) read (your timer should be set to 1 minute) under "Cold Read".

• In your homework packet, provide 6 copies of a leveled fluency passage (OR provide 2 copies and use sheet protectors- 1 student copy, 1 adult copy) where 5 are stapled together for the adult to record errors/WPMs and 1 is for the student to read daily. If you choose to use the sheet protector method, be sure parents are aware they'll need a dry erase marker since they'll be circling errors on the same page each evening.

• During the week, parents should listen to their child read for 1 minute and record the WPM on the chart.

• At the end of the week, complete a final reading with each student and discuss how the "Cold Read" WPM differs from the "Hot Read" WPM.

Using this strategy will significantly improve a child’s reading fluency.

Want to make sure your child has a strong reading foundation so they can easily move up in reading levels quickly and without you having to feel like you’re forcing them to read? Learning to read is fun in the Raising Readers program. Click here to learn more.