Melissa & Lori Love Literacy ™ [Listen Again] Building Fluency with POSSUM with Maryanne Wolf and Melissa Orkin
May 23, 2025
In this engaging discussion, renowned author Maryanne Wolf, a leader in dyslexia research, joins former teacher Melissa Orkin, who has collaborated with Wolf for 15 years. They delve into the vital concept of reading fluency, emphasizing its impact on comprehension and social-emotional well-being, especially for struggling readers. They introduce the innovative POSSUM approach, which integrates various aspects of word knowledge, helping educators adopt holistic strategies for teaching reading and ensuring that students thrive in their literacy journeys.
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Fluency Integrates Multiple Word Knowledge
- Fluency involves rapidly connecting phonology, orthography, semantics, and syntax within milliseconds.
- True fluency means automatic integration of word aspects, not just reading speed or prosody.
Fluency Linked to Retrieval Speed
- Reading fluency deficits often involve slow retrieval, not only phonological issues.
- About 70% of struggling readers have combined phonological and rapid naming weaknesses.
Fluency Enables Thinking and Comprehension
- Fluency is essential for comprehension because it frees cognitive resources for thinking.
- Without fluency, reading is laborious, causing exhaustion and disengagement in learners.
