Fluency

When I first thought of fluency I immediately began to connect it to being fluent in a language such as Spanish.  To be fluent in a language it means that you can speak it without hesitation in your communication.  I had not thought of applying it to a child learning how to read.  Fluency is such an important skill that I believe that many educators tend to overlook or mis-define to increase test scores.  I found that both of the readings were very helpful in both defining and giving examples to improve the fluency of my future students.

I found it very interesting that in Classrooms that Work they emphasized rereading books that students enjoy.  This is so common sense, but I would not have thought that immediately.  I know that when I was growing up I had a subscription to American Girl magazine, and I would read them over and over until they fell apart.  I never would have thought that students would want to reread books.  I think part of how our society is now is that we tend to read things and move on.  I am so glad that I was reminded that everyone likes to revisit familiar things.  I also really liked the idea of having older students read to kindergarteners.  This would help both students to expand their love for learning.

I really liked the article about creating fluent readers.  I loved that they emphasized that we should instill in our students a love of the drama that reading has.  If students do not know that reading shows emotion and feeling then they will truly not understand the joy that reading can bring into your life.  I think that using drama and theater would be a great way to show students this in the classroom.  In addition, they would be able to get up and move which is always a positive with little ones.

• Do you think that all students benefit from activities like reader's theater?
• How can you emphasize comprehension over speed?

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