What is the relationship among fluency word recognition and comprehension?

Even when students recognize words automatically, they are not fluent if they don’t read with expression. To read with expression a student should be able to divide a word into chunks, using proper phrasing. Not paying attention to punctuation often changes the meaning of the text. For example:

The children, without their toys, feel sad.
or
The children without their, toys feel sad.

Fortunately, reading fluency can be taught. It is important for adults to read aloud to children, modeling what good readers do. Show children how you pause for punctuation and change your voice to make text more meaningful. Children should be read to by their teachers, by their parents, and by their relatives. The more models of fluent reading children hear the better.

Next, it is important for children to practice, engaging them in repeated reading. Text should be easy to read and relatively short. There are several ways children can practice fluent reading;

  • Child/adult reading – The adult models, then the student practices.
  • Choral reading – reading in unison.
  • Assisted reading – reading along with a recorded text.
  • Partner reading – reading along with another child
  • Reader’s Theatre – playing characters, as in a play.

Assessing progress is easy and most children think it’s fun. Children love when you take out a stop watch and time them. Pick a passage on the proper reading level, time for 1 minute and graph the results. After several practices on the same text, time again. The children see immediate progress and become motivated to become more fluent readers.

In conclusion, reading fluency is the ability to read accurately and quickly. It is important because fluent readers comprehend better. It can be developed by modeling and practice.

Reading fluency has traditionally been recognized as a competency associated with word recognition and comprehension. As readers become more automatic in word identification they are able to devote less attention and cognitive resources to word decoding and more to text comprehension. The act of reading itself has been associated with growth in vocabulary. Thus, as readers become more fluent, they should be able to cover more text resulting in greater gains in reading vocabulary. This study explores the relationship between fluency and vocabulary among 119 fifth grade Turkish students. Findings confirm that measures of reading fluency are associated with differential levels of vocabulary in students. The findings are discussed in terms of further research and classroom practice for improving students' proficiency in reading.

Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals

The goal of reading is to gain information, whether it is what happens to the characters in a story, or learning about the world. Reading fluency is the speed and accuracy of decoding words. Reading comprehension is the ability to understand what you are reading. A student is considered a proficient reader when reading fluency and reading comprehension are at grade level.

Achieving the proper balance between reading fluency and reading comprehension is important. Some students who struggle with learning to read will focus more on the mechanics of reading (decoding) and miss comprehending what they are reading. Other students can easily understand what they are reading even though they struggle with decoding.

What is the relationship among fluency word recognition and comprehension?

It is important to develop both reading fluency and reading comprehension in all students. Fluid reading skills make reading easier and more enjoyable. Reading comprehension lets the student acquire knowledge and follow a story line. When there is a significant difference between fluency and comprehension skills it is wise to address them separately.

When reading comprehension skills are higher than reading fluency skills:

  • Practicing reading fluency at the child’s reading decoding level will help build reading fluency skills.
    • When reading fluency is low, consider these interventions:
      • Does the child need repeated practice readings to develop a better reading rate?
      • Does the child need phonemic rules to increase reading accuracy
      • Does the child need rapid automatic naming skills to build the phonological loop?
    • Listening to audiobooks, or being read to, at comprehension level, will enable a student who struggles with reading fluency to gain knowledge, build vocabulary, hone thinking skills, and develop the joy of the written word.
    • Consider getting extra time for tests and exams so students can demonstrate their knowledge.

Check out my blog post on reading apps that use text-to-speech software to allow students to read along as the story is read to them.  Bookshare offers free access to students with dyslexia or visual issues. These programs allow students to enhance their vocabulary and enjoyment of books. The best part of these apps is that they highlight the words as they read, encouraging students to read along.

When reading fluency skills are higher than reading comprehension skills:

  • Make sure the student slows down and processes what the words are saying.
    • Before beginning a book take time to discuss the cover and title with the student:
      • Why do you think they chose this title?
      • What do you think the book is going to be about?
  • Stop and ask comprehension questions as you read:
    • What do you think the main character looks like?
    • What do you think the setting looks like?
    • What do you think will happen next?
    • Why do you think that character did that?
    • Is what just happened in the book something you have ever experienced?

Fluid reading with good comprehension is the goal for all readers. Some students learn one aspect of reading more easily than the other. Take the time to build both fluency and comprehension so your child becomes a proficient reader.

Is fluency the bridge between word recognition and comprehension?

Fluency is the ability to read a text accurately, quickly, and with expression. Reading fluency is important because it provides a bridge between word recognition and comprehension.

What is the connection between word recognition and language comprehension?

Word recognition skills allow students to identify words, first through the decoding process and later automatically. Mastery of word recognition is required for automatic, fluent reading. A student's language comprehension represents their ability to understand spoken language.

What is the relationship of reading fluency to comprehension?

Fluency is important because it builds a bridge between word recognition and comprehension. It allows students time to focus on what the text is saying. They are able to make connections between what they are reading and their own background knowledge. Therefore, they are able to concentrate on comprehension.

How does reading fluency serve as a bridge between decoding word recognition and comprehension?

Reading fluency is the ability to decode and comprehend text simultaneously. Thus, reading fluency forms a bridge from decoding skills to comprehension (Rasinski, 2004). Fluency is comprised of three component skills or indicators: accuracy of decoding, automaticity of decoding, and prosody of oral text.