Fluency
Fluency is difficult for ELLs because their lack of proficiency in English slows down their ability to
decode words and hinders their ability to understand the meanings of the words and how the words
combine to produce meaningful sentences and discourse. These suggestions will help teachers adapt
fluency instruction for ELLs:
-ELLs cannot achieve fluency in oral reading before they have achieved fluency in speaking.
Repeated readings of texts that contain unfamiliar vocabulary and sentence structures will not
increase fluency. When working on developing fluency, be sure that students are reading texts
that they are familiar with and can understand. Students' own language experience stories are a
very good choice, as are read-alouds that students have heard several times and discussed.
-ELLs' normal self-consciousness about accents and errors can affect their reading fluency,
especially if they are asked to read aloud in front of the entire class. This effect will be magnified
if students are openly corrected or criticized. Fluency practice for ELLs can be facilitated by
having them read along with the teacher, or by reading chorally with a group. If individual oral
reading is necessary, provide an authentic purpose for the reading (such as a theatrical
performance, or delivering information that the rest of the class needs), and let students practice
performance, or delivering information that the rest of the class needs), and let students practice
first with a partner.
-Decoding skills, fluency in oral reading, and reading comprehension interact in various ways. The
ability to decode words easily is obviously necessary for fluency, and it also facilitates
comprehension by allowing the reader to pay more attention to meaning. Comprehension, in
turn, facilitates fluency by making it easier to recognize new words. Effective instruction for ELLs
integrates these three elements of reading (plus vocabulary learning) into the same lessons
using the same text, as each element helps build and reinforce the others, producing a multiplier
effect.