Shanahan on Literacy Do Middle and High School Students Need Fluency Instruction and What Counts as Instruction?
Oct 26, 2024
This discussion dives into the importance of fluency instruction for middle and high school students. It explores why fluency is crucial for reading comprehension at these levels. The conversation highlights differing opinions on whether all students require this instruction. Additionally, the need to engage students with challenging texts is emphasized as a way to bolster their skills. Resources for further exploration of fluency instruction are also provided, making the topic even more compelling.
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Disagreement on Fluency Instruction
- A teacher disagreed with a consultant about fluency instruction for struggling middle school readers.
- The teacher questioned whether practicing fluency counts as teaching it.
Fluency Development Plateau
- Fluency often plateaus around eighth or ninth grade for average readers.
- However, some students may still need targeted fluency work, even proficient readers, with specific complex texts.
Assessing Fluency Needs
- Assess student fluency by listening to them read grade-level texts.
- If they struggle with accuracy, speed, or prosody, implement fluency work.