Fostering Fluency

Effective, research-based practices for development of

automaticity and fluency

Anne Zernicke, Rosemary Ginn, Janice RaymondMassachusetts Dept. of Education, Reading First

What is Fluency?

Rate and accuracy in oral reading Hasbrouck and Tindal 2001, Torgesen et al. 2001

Accurate reading at a minimal rate with appropriate prosodic features (expression) and deep understanding

Hudson, Mercer and Lane 2000

Reading is a multifaceted skill, gradually acquired over years of instruction and practice.

The Many Strands that are Woven into Skilled Reading(Scarborough, 2001)

BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE

VOCABULARY KNOWLEDGE LANGUAGE STRUCTURES VERBAL REASONING

LITERACY KNOWLEDGE

PHON. AWARENESS

DECODING (and SPELLING) SIGHT RECOGNITION

SKILLED READING: fluent execution and coordination of word recognition and text comprehension.

LANGUAGE COMPREHENSION

WORD RECOGNITION

increasingly

automatic

increasinglystrategic

Skilled Reading- fluent coordination of

word reading and comprehension

processes

He had never seen dogs fight as these w___ish c________ f_____, and his first ex________ t____t him an unf______able l____n. It is true, it was a vi_______ ex_______, else he would not have lived to pr___t by it. Curley was the v_____. They were camped near the log store, where she, in her friend__y way, made ad______ to a husky dog the size of a full-_____ wolf, th_____ not half so large as _he. __ere was no w___ing, only a leap in like a flash, a met_____ clip of teeth, a leap out equal__ swift, and Curly’s face was ripped open from eye to jaw.

From Call of the Wild by Jack London Taken from the NICHD Research Program: What We now Know About How Children Learn to Read Bonita Grossen 03-27-97 Full report at: www.cftl.org/30years/30years.html

From Call of the Wild by Jack London

He had never seen dogs fight as these wolfish creatures fought, and his first experience taught him an unforgettable lesson.  It is true, it was a vicarious experience, else he would not have lived to profit by it.  Curly was the victim.  They were camped near the log store, where she, in her friendly way, made advances to a husky dog the size of a full-grown wolf, though not half so large as she.  There was no warning, only a leap in like a flash, a metallic clip of teeth, a leap out equally swift, and Curly's face was ripped open from eye to jaw.

Marilyn Adams on the nature of skilled reading:…it has been proven beyond any shade of doubt that skillful readers process virtually each and every word and letter of text as they read. This is extremely counter-intuitive. For sure, skillful readers neither look nor feel as if that’s what they do. But that’s because they do it so quickly and effortlessly. Almost automatically; with almost no conscious attention whatsoever, skillful readers recognize words by drawing on deep and ready knowledge of spellings and their connections to speech and meaning. In fact, the automaticity with which skillful readers recognize words is the key to the whole system…The reader’s attention can be focused on the meaning and message of a text only to the extent that it’s free from fussing with the words and letters.

Fluency and Comprehension

Fluent reading allows the reader to attend to the meaning of the text rather than the mechanics of decoding.

Fluent readers construct meaning as they read as evidenced by their phrasing, intonation and expression.

What can fluent readers do?

* Read every letter in every word.* Read almost every word.* Perceive letters in chunks; recognize

high frequency letter combinations.* Apply syllabication strategies to

divide lengthy words with little conscious analysis.

What can fluent readers do?

* Read fluently with adequate speed, phrasing, intonation; their reading sounds like they’re speaking.

* Apply their knowledge of orthography to help identify unknown words they encounter.

* Activate, apply their extensive vocabulary.

What can fluent readers do?

* Use their knowledge about the structure of written text to anticipate words as they read.

* Rely little on contextual information because word recognition is rapid, automatic and efficient.

* Construct meaning as they read.

Partner Activity

Passage #1

Please take turns reading the following passage to your partner. After reading, discuss with your partner whether your reading of this selection was accurate and fluent.Why were you able to read this passage with accuracy and fluency?

First ReaderFirst ReaderBy Billy CollinsBy Billy Collins

I can see them standing politely on the wide pages that I was still learning to I can see them standing politely on the wide pages that I was still learning to turn, Jane in a blue jumper, Dick with his crayon-brown hair, playing with a turn, Jane in a blue jumper, Dick with his crayon-brown hair, playing with a ball or exploring the cosmos of the backyard, unaware they are the first ball or exploring the cosmos of the backyard, unaware they are the first characters, the boy and girl who begin fiction.characters, the boy and girl who begin fiction.

Beyond the simple illustrations of their neighborhood, the other protagonists Beyond the simple illustrations of their neighborhood, the other protagonists were waiting in a huddle: frightening Heathcliff, frightened Pip, Nick Adams were waiting in a huddle: frightening Heathcliff, frightened Pip, Nick Adams carrying a fishing rod, Emma Bovary riding into Rouen.carrying a fishing rod, Emma Bovary riding into Rouen.

But I would read about the perfect boy and his sister even before I would read But I would read about the perfect boy and his sister even before I would read about Adam and Eve, garden and gate, and before I heard the name Gutenberg, about Adam and Eve, garden and gate, and before I heard the name Gutenberg, the type of their simple talk was moving into my focusing eyes.the type of their simple talk was moving into my focusing eyes.

It was always Saturday and he and she were always pointing at something It was always Saturday and he and she were always pointing at something and shouting, “Look!” pointing at the dog, the bicycle, or at their father as and shouting, “Look!” pointing at the dog, the bicycle, or at their father as he pushed a hand mower over the lawn, waving at aproned mother framed he pushed a hand mower over the lawn, waving at aproned mother framed in the kitchen doorway, pointing toward the sky, pointing at each other.in the kitchen doorway, pointing toward the sky, pointing at each other.

They wanted us to look but we had looked already and seen the shaded They wanted us to look but we had looked already and seen the shaded lawn, the wagon, the postman. We had seen the dog, walked, watered and lawn, the wagon, the postman. We had seen the dog, walked, watered and fed the animal, and now it was time to discover the infinite, clicking fed the animal, and now it was time to discover the infinite, clicking permutations of the alphabet’s small and capital letters. Alphabetical permutations of the alphabet’s small and capital letters. Alphabetical ourselves in the rows of classroom desks, we were forgetting how to look, ourselves in the rows of classroom desks, we were forgetting how to look, learning how to read.learning how to read.

Passage #2

Take turns reading this passage to your partner.

After reading, discuss whether your reading of this passage was accurate and fluent.

Why or why not?

Excerpt from Journal of Optics and Acoustics

Using methods associated with polynomial expansion, we discussed atmospheric dispersion effects in dual wavelength adaptive optics systems. On the basis of dual frequency correlations associated with phase expansion coefficients, we solved for residual phase errors produced by atmospheric dispersion. Taking the product

Passage #2 continued

amount of beacon phase distortion and specific value of ratio (lambda 2)

(lambda 1)(the beacon wavelength/ transmitted wavelength) to be phase predistortion, it is possible to rectify relatively well the phase distortion transmitted light beams.

Y. Yeng

Characteristics of dysfluent readers

Slow rate of readingHesitates at unknown wordsDifficulty applying learned word identification strategiesRepeats, rereads words and phrasesRecognizes few words at sight

Possible reasons for slow, dysfluent reading include:Lack of

automaticity:Letter naming/recognitionLetter soundRecognition of phonic patterns, syllablesSight words

OR child is automatic at word level but

Lacks fluency at: Phrase Sentence Paragraph Passage

level

Automaticity

Most complex behaviors include underlying subskills which must be mastered to an automatic level. Once automaticity is achieved, performance is fluent, more enjoyable, and attention can be devoted to higher goals.

Automaticity and Reading

Difficulties in automatic word recognition affect accuracy, rate of reading and a reader’s ability to efficiently comprehend what they read. (Lyon 1995; Torgesen 2001)

Automaticity and Fluency

Automaticity refers to fast, accurate and effortless word identification at the single word level. (Hook, Jones 2002)

Fluency refers to not only automatic word identification but also to the application of appropriate prosodic features at the phrase, sentence and text levels. (Hook and Jones 2002)

Assessing Automaticity and Fluency

Why assess fluency?

Oral reading fluency measures are valid: have been found to predict results on high stakes reading comprehension testsBenchmarks for satisfactory reading rates are the same regardless of reading programBenchmarks help teachers identify who is at risk for for below grade level performance

Assessments

DIBELS: Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills Good and Kaminski, Univ. of Oregon

Test of Word Reading Efficiency Torgesen, Pro-Ed

Gray Oral Reading Test IV

DIBELS subtests

Letter namingInitial sound fluencyPhoneme segmentationNonsense word fluencyOral reading fluencyWord use fluencyOral retelling

TOWRETOWRESight Word Sight Word EfficiencyEfficiency

How to assess fluency

Use oral reading fluency norms from a valid assessment tool such as DIBELSPassages at student’s instructional reading level should be used.Conduct 3 one minute screenings then calculate the median scoreMark all errors

WCPM trials

Teacher asks student to read passage.Teacher times reading and has student stop at one minute.Teacher counts words read correctly per minute (WCPM).Teacher refers to benchmark chart to interpret score. (Hasbrouck and Tindal 1992)

Practice example for WCPM

Jen read a passage of 140 words in 2 minutes. She made 20 errors.

Words read correctly: 140-20=120 Percent accuracy: 120/140= 85% Time in decimal form 120/60=2.0

WCPM = 120/2.0 = 60 WCPM

WCPM Calculations

Percent Accuracy # of words read correctly total number of words read 120/140 = 85% accuracyTime in decimal form: Divide time (seconds) by 60 120 seconds/60 seconds = 2.0

WCPM = 120/ 2.0= 60

Interpreting results

For Percentage of accuracy

96-100% Independent reading level91- 95% Instructional reading level90% and below Frustration reading level

* Jen read the passage with 85% accuracy. Is this passage appropriate for fluency practice?

Interpreting results

For Oral Reading Fluency benchmarksTeachers need to refer to normative

data sources which include:

DIBELS benchmarksHasbrouck and Tindal, 1992Fuchs et al, 1993

Research-based Instruction

Instruction

For children whose performance falls below benchmark, additional assessment is needed to pinpoint specific instruction needed.

Further diagnostic assessment will help determine if slow, dysfluent reading is a result of weak accuracy (word level) or slow rate, fluency (text level).

Fluency instruction for the struggling reader

Struggling readers need more structured, systematic, explicit emphasis on building both accuracy and fluency. (LETRS, Sopris West)

General principles for instruction

Text used for fluency instruction and practice should be carefully chosen by teacher.Frequent, brief practice on successive days.Charting of accuracy and rate is highly motivating and provides record of progress.Comprehension checks may be part of fluency lessons.

Instruction to develop automaticity of letters and soundsLetter recognition, naming tasks (Alphabet Arc activities)Letter-sound correspondence (Sound card games and drills)Phonological awareness tasks (Rhyming)Phonemic blending and segmentation tasks (Elkonin box activities, finger tapping)

Instruction to improve automaticity at the word level

Onset-rimes (word sorts, drills)Syllables (Six syllable type review and drills)Irregular, sight words (sand writing, drills)Regular sight words (review phonic pattern, orthographic rule, word card games, drills)

Example: Fischer Speed Drill

rid hid hide kit kite ride hide rid hid kit ride hid kite ride rid kit hide hid

ride kit rid hide hid kit rid kite ride

Phyllis Fischer Concept Phonics (Oxton House)

Instruction to improve Fluency in connected textResearch has shown the following

techniques to be most effective:

Alternate or simultaneous oral reading with a modelRepeated readingsTimed trials with Charting

Alternate Oral Reading

Teacher reads section of passage while child follows along, reading silently and pointing to words as they are read.Child reads same section or next section of text.

Simultaneous oral reading

Preview passage; discuss. Teacher reads passage as child reads along, silently.Teacher and child read passage together.Child reads passage independently.

Repeated readings

Text is read, then reread two to four times on successive days. Teacher must insure that text used can be read with at least 95% accuracy by child.Teacher and student can graph wcpm.

Charting with one minute timed trials

WCPM are counted after child reads passage for one minute. Performance is charted so that improvement is seen over weeks, months.

Phrase-cued reading

Teacher marks text with pencil, scooping phrases.Teacher models expressive reading using pencil to scoop phrases as phrases are read.Student follows model, reads passage while scooping phrases with pencil.

Automaticity/Fluency Programs and Materials:

Great Leaps by Campbell and Mercer

Read Naturally by Edformation

Quick Reads by Hiebert

Language! by Greene

Great Leaps K-2 high frequency phrases my work is good make it work most

people

which day man made find out

a good day about much work first day

1998 Campbell and Mercer

www.quickreads.www.quickreads.orgorg

Short texts to be Short texts to be read quickly with read quickly with meaning.meaning.60 texts each at 60 texts each at grades 2,3,4.grades 2,3,4.Carefully structured Carefully structured to focus on 1000 to focus on 1000 most frequent most frequent words and words and important phonemic important phonemic patternspatterns

Most effective/less effective practicesMost effective practices include: Alternate and Simultaneous reading Repeated readings Minute trials and ChartingLess effective practices include: Choral reading Round robin reading Readers’ theatre National Reading Panel 2000

Instruction versus Practice

Instruction is: explicit and teacher directed and is provided in one to one or small groups.

Practice is: child directed conducted with a partner or partners at learning centers/stations in school or at home.

Automaticity Practice/Centers

Alphabet Arc games including “Go fish” and “Knock, knock” for automatic letter recognition

“Moose” game for sight word practice.

Partner picture card sorts for practice isolating sounds in words.

Word sort games and word building games for review of words with regular phonic patterns.

Fluency Practice/Centers

Partner reading at center with record sheet to record date, partner, passage read.

Across grade reading; e.g.Third graders read, regularly, to their kindergarten buddies.

Rereading book to parent at home.

Simultaneous assisted reading; child reads with tape recorder at listening center.

Creating a plan for fluency instruction and practice

Assess studentsIdentify children at riskIdentify specific needs and group children for instruction (i.e. accuracy, automaticity at word level, or rate fluency in connected text)Provide explicit instruction in automaticity and fluency as well as opportunities for practice.Monitor progress

Progress Monitoring - The Teacher’s MapWhoops! Time to make a change!

10

20

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Dec.Scores

Feb.Scores

Jan.Scores

M archScores

AprilScores

M ayScores

JuneScores

60

50

Phon

eme

Segm

enta

tion

Flue

ncy

Aimline

Progress Monitoring: The Teacher’s Map

10

20

30

40

Dec.Scores

Feb.Scores

Jan.Scores

M archScores

AprilScores

MayScores

JuneScores

60

50

Aimline

A change in intervention

Progress Monitoring Assessment

Purpose: Frequent, timely measures to determine whether students are learning enough of critical skills.When: At minimum 3 times per year at critical decision making points.Who: Students identified as at risk, some risk.Relation to Instruction: Indicates students who require additional assessment, more intensive instruction and/or intervention.

For our next regional meeting…

Please be prepared to share: Plan for fluency instruction (K,1 or 2,3).Instructional techniques used. Practice/Center techniques used. Successes, challenges!

References

Adams, M.(1990) Beginning to Read: Thinking and Learning about Print. Cambridge MA. The MIT Press.

Chall, J. (1983) Stages of Reading Development. New York, NY. McGraw-Hill.

Fischer, P. (1995) Speed Drills for Decoding Automaticity, Farmington, ME, Oxton House.

References, cont.

Hasbrouck (1998) Reading fluency: Principles for instruction and progress monitoring. Austin, TX: Texas Center for Reading and Language, University of Texas at Austin.

Hook, P. and Jones, S. (2002). The Importance of Automaticity and Fluency for Efficient Reading Comprehension. Perspectives, winter 2002, Vol. 28, no. 1

References, cont.

National Reading Panel. (2000). Teaching children to read: An evidenced based assessment of scientific research literature on reading and its implications for instruction. Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health.

Snow, C., Burns, M. (1998) Preventing reading difficulties in Young Children. Washington, D.C. National Academy Press.

References, cont.

Torgesen, J. (2001) Principles of Fluency Instruction in Reading: relationships with established empirical outcomes. In M. Wolf (Ed.) Dyslexia, Fluency and the Brain. Parkton MD: York Press.

Resources

• www.uoregon.edu,•

www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/nrp

• www.sopriswest.com• www.neuhaus.org • www.mghihp.edu/hill • www.doe.mass.edu