Ways to Improve Reading Fluency for Choppy or Reluctant Readers
Reading fluency is a crucial skill that directly impacts comprehension and overall reading enjoyment. For some individuals, reading may feel like a daunting task, characterized by choppy reading with frequent stops and starts, or a hesitancy and overall reluctance to try. We all want our kids to experience the joy of effortlessly diving into a book, but if that feels out of reach, here are some strategies to improve reading fluency and set the stage for confident, successful reading:
Reading Aloud:
Reading aloud is one of the most effective strategies for improving reading fluency. Encourage choppy or reluctant readers to read aloud regularly, even if it’s just for a few minutes each day. This practice helps them become more comfortable with the rhythm and flow of language, leading to smoother, more fluid reading over time. Additionally, reading aloud provides opportunities for self-correction and feedback, which are essential for growth.
For kids who get overwhelmed by reading out loud, it can be helpful to scale up to this level of practice. This can look like:
- Starting with echo reading. Read a phrase or sentence and have them repeat it.
- Once they’re comfortable at that stage, move to alternating sentences, paragraphs, and then pages. They read a section then you do, back and forth, to get through the book. This will gradually grow their willingness to try and provide context for what they’re reading and hearing.
- When they’re ready for extended time reading aloud, depending on their age and interest, it can be helpful to set up reading parties where they can read to siblings, grandparents, pets, stuffed animals, or other willing participants. Don’t worry too much about the level of book they’re reading; just focus on interest and practice.
Model Fluent Reading:
Modeling fluent reading is another powerful tool for improving reading fluency. Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or tutor, reading passages aloud with expression and clarity can demonstrate what fluent reading sounds like. This allows choppy readers to hear the natural cadence of language and emulate it in their own reading. Consider using audiobooks or reading together to provide additional examples of fluent reading for your learners as they gain confidence.
Chunking Text:
Breaking down text into smaller, manageable chunks can help choppy readers process information more effectively. Encourage them to focus on reading one phrase or sentence at a time, rather than trying to tackle entire paragraphs or pages all at once. This approach reduces overwhelm and allows readers to concentrate on each segment, leading to smoother and more fluent reading.
Practice with High-Interest Materials:
Engaging reluctant readers with high-interest materials can significantly boost motivation and enthusiasm for reading. Choose books, articles, or passages that align with their interests and hobbies to make reading more enjoyable and meaningful. When readers are genuinely interested in the content, they are more likely to invest effort in improving their fluency and comprehension.
Use Multisensory Techniques:
Incorporating multisensory techniques can appeal to kids with a variety of different needs and struggles. Encourage choppy readers to engage with text through activities such as finger tracing, highlighting, or using manipulatives to emphasize key words or phrases. These hands-on approaches provide additional sensory input, reinforcing connections between letters, sounds, and meanings, and promoting smoother reading.
Note: these techniques are helpful in the moment, but they won’t address the root cause of struggles with reading fluency. See below for more info on laying a solid foundation for strong, successful reading.
Provide Positive Reinforcement:
Building confidence is essential for reluctant readers to overcome challenges and improve their reading fluency. Offer praise and positive reinforcement for their efforts, no matter how small. Celebrate progress and achievements, and encourage a growth mindset by emphasizing that improvement takes time and practice. Creating a supportive and encouraging environment fosters a love of reading and motivates readers to continue working towards fluency.
READ MORE: Tips for Encouraging a Love of Reading in Children With Learning Struggles >>
Lay a Solid Foundation
As much as these techniques can be helpful, efforts to improve reading fluency WITHOUT looking at cognitive skills will often result in a continuation of struggles longer than necessary. The reality is that issues with reading—whether it’s decoding, fluency, comprehension, or any other area—are rooted in cognitive skills. And beyond that, exactly which skills are causing the struggle can be different for everybody. For example, here are a few cognitive skills and just a quick example of how they can impact reading fluency:
- Processing speed: struggling to take in the words, interpret them, and read them fluently
- Visual processing: skipping around on the page or failing to recognize common words
- Auditory processing: inability to sound out words correctly and decode efficiently
- Logic & reasoning: issues with applying common reading or spelling words in different concepts or seeing how these words connect
- Working memory: forgetting a word as soon as they’ve read it so they don’t grasp the arc of a sentence, paragraph, or story
Once you know exactly which skill is causing your student’s issues with reading, you can create a targeted intervention to build up that skill and help them unlock greater confidence & success. At LearningRx, we provide comprehensive cognitive testing to help learners of all ages get to the root cause of struggles with reading as well as attention, math, comprehension, test-taking, and more!
