Four Steps to Building Fluency with Text
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4 Steps to Building Fluency with Text
1. Repeated Readings
- Read the same passage several times.
- Aim to reduce the time and number of errors with each attempt.
- Use this strategy with students individually, with a peer, or in small groups.
2. Goal Setting
- Identify the number of correct words to read per minute.
- Set a goal to read farther in the passage or make fewer errors.
- Define weekly learning targets to monitor progress overtime.
- Identify an end of year grade level target for number ofwords read per minute.
3. Corrective Feedback
- Give immediate feedback if student makes an error.
- Have the student sound out and repeat the word.
- Have the student go back and re-read the sentence.
4. Graphing Performance
- Let students see their progress by having them graph their performance.
- Have students compare their first read-through to the next read-through.
- Have students track their targets and progress overtime.
Suggested Citation
National Center on Improving Literacy (2020). 4 Steps to Building Fluency with Text. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Special Education Programs, National Center on Improving Literacy. Retrieved from http://improvingliteracy.org.
Abstract
Repeated readings, goal setting, corrective feedback, and graphing performance can help build Fluency with Text.
Related Resources
Read this brief to learn the importance of building fluency at home.
Topic: Fluency with Text


This webpage contains videos illustrating fluent reading in Grades K-5.
Topic: Fluency with Text


This course module includes in-depth information, classroom strategies, assignments, and additional resources on teaching fluency.
Topic: Fluency with Text


The research reported here is funded by awards to the National Center on Improving Literacy from the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, in partnership with the Office of Special Education Programs (Award #: S283D160003). The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not represent views of OESE, OSEP, or the U.S. Department of Education. Copyright © 2023 National Center on Improving Literacy. https://improvingliteracy.org