Fluency is more than
reading fast and accurately. Pikulski
and Chard (2005) explain how fluency is the bridge between decoding and
comprehension. A reader who is not
skilled in fluency has to focus more attention on figuring out words and has
less attention to give to understanding the text. Even so, just building fluency is singularly
not enough because fluency without also having comprehension is of little
value.
In order to build the
bridge to comprehension, Pikulski and Chard propose a 9-step instructional
program:
- Build the graphophonic foundations, including phonological awareness, letter knowledge, phonics
- Build and grow vocabulary.
- Provide skilled instruction and practice in high-frequency words.
- Teach common word parts and patterns.
- Teach, model, practice decoding strategies.
- Use the right level of texts to coach reading strategies and speed.
- Use repeated reading as an intervention approach.
- Increase growing fluency with wide reading.
- Progress-monitor with appropriate assessment tools.
(Pikulski and Chard, 2005, p.
513).
I have been working on
implementing the steps with my reading groups.
I find explicit instruction in decoding skills, along with using
appropriate texts in repeated reading to be effective for increasing speed,
accuracy, and understanding. It is a
feeling of success for both me and the student when they cross the bridge from
struggling to decode to comprehending the text without effort.
APA Article Citation:
Pikulski, J., & Chard, D. (2005).
Fluency: the bridge between decoding and reading intervention. The Reading
Teacher, 58(6), 510-519.
Link to Article:
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