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Showing results for:"reading fluency"

  • How to help kids become more fluent readers

    Reading fluency is the ability to read at a good pace, with accuracy, and with the right expression. Fluent readers also understand what theyre reading. Here are some ways kids can improve their fluency: - Listen to models of fluent reading, like read-alouds. Audiobooks can also be great models o

  • Reading speed and fluency: What you need to know

    - Reading speed is the number of words a person can read correctly per minute. - Reading fluency is the term for being able to read accurately at a good pace and with the right expression or intonation. - Schools use reading fluency to track kids progress as they learn how to read. Reading speed

  • Video: What reading fluency looks like in fourth grade

    Most fourth graders can read pretty smoothly, with both expression and understanding. But they may correct themselves or need help pronouncing words at times. Watch this video from Understood founding partner to find out what fluent reading sounds like at this age.

  • Video: What reading fluency looks like in second grade

    What does reading smoothly look like in second grade? Do second graders typically develop reading fluency? Watch this video from founding partner to get an idea of reading skills second graders develop.

  • Video: What reading fluency looks like in third grade

    In third grade, kids books get just a little more challenging. Children this age are usually able to read them smoothly and at a reasonable pace. Watch this video from Understood founding partner to hear what a fluent third-grade reader sounds like.

  • Teacher tip: A simple technique to help your child read fluently

    As educators, we often say that reading fluency is the bridge between decoding and reading comprehension . Fluent readers can read text smoothly using the right tone and expression. Fluency is a challenge for lots of kids. Thats especially true for grade-schoolers who are starting to read more com

  • Video: What reading fluency looks like in first grade

    What does it mean for first graders to read smoothly? Are they developing reading fluency? This video from founding partner can help you understand typical reading skills in first grade.

  • Video: What reading fluency looks like in fifth grade

    In fifth grade, kids face their most challenging reading assignments yet. Theyll typically be able to read aloud smoothly and at a speed thats easy to understand. But they may have to correct themselves from time to time. Watch this video from Understood founding partner to find out what else to

  • Video: What reading fluency looks like in kindergarten

    What does it look like for a kindergartner to read smoothly? This video from founding partner can help you better understand typical reading skills in kindergarten.

  • Is it OK that my second grader is learning to read by memorizing words?

    My second grader is learning to read by memorizing words, instead of by sounding them out. Is that OK? Yes, its OK, especially for early readers. In fact, reading by memorizing words is something most kids do when theyre first learning to read . Its also something they need to do to be good read

  • Types of reading disabilities

    Reading disabilities also known as reading disorders are specific learning disabilities that make reading challenging. The most well-known type of reading disability is dyslexia . But not all reading disabilities are dyslexia. People with a reading disability typically have challenges in one, two,

  • The difference between decodable and non-decodable words

    - Knowing the relationship between letters and their sounds helps kids decode words. - Some words are tricky and dont follow the rules of phonics. - Words that kids learn to recognize at a glance are called sight words. Some are decodable but many are not. Early readers must know how to tackle a

  • 9 terms to know if your child has trouble with reading

    As you look into why your child has trouble with reading , you may come across a number of words and concepts youre not familiar with. Here are key reading terms to help you understand your childs reading challenges. 1. Decoding Decoding is a key reading skill. Decoding involves matching letters w

  • Video: How fifth graders show they understand what they read

    Its usually pretty easy to tell whether fifth graders understand what they read. Just ask them questions about it. Watch this video from Understood founding partner to learn more about how to tell if your child is really understanding a book or block of text.

  • Why is my third grader suddenly having trouble reading?

    My daughter is in third grade, and she was doing fine with reading until now. Why would she suddenly be having trouble with reading? Your daughter is not alone. I often see kids who get off to a great start in their reading, but then they hit a bit of a bump in third grade. Heres what is typically

  • What are sight words?

    - Sight words are common words that kids recognize instantly without sounding them out. - Recognizing words by sight helps kids become faster, more fluent readers. - Many sight words are tricky to read and spell they arent spelled the way they sound. Sight words are common words that schools ex

  • Top 10 things to know about reading

    - Learning to read is a complex process. - What kids learn before they enter school is important. - Early intervention can help struggling readers. Here are 10 things you need to know about reading what it takes to learn to read and how to help struggling readers. 1. Too many American children d

  • How can you tell if kids understand what they read?

    My 9-year-old daughter struggles with reading, but shes no longer reading aloud with me. How can I tell if she understands what she reads? This is such an important question. The ultimate goal of reading is to make meaning of whats written. That requires lots of practice. Without being involved in

  • Video: How first graders figure out the meaning of new words

    Beginning readers in first grade are constantly encountering new words. But they can often figure out what those words mean. Watch this video from to find out how.

  • 6 essential skills for reading comprehension

    - Reading comprehension can be challenging for kids. - Kids must master a number of key skills, like decoding, to fully understand what theyre reading. - There are ways to help struggling readers build these skills at home and at school. Some people think of the act of reading as a straightforwa

  • Teaching teens who struggle with reading: What can help

    - Kids who struggle with reading can face new challenges when they reach middle school and high school. - Reading methods based on research can help teens read more skillfully. - There are strategies for teaching decoding and vocabulary skills to teens. Even when theyve mastered the basics, kids

  • Phonics blending: An evidence-based literacy strategy

    Phonics blending is a way for students to decode words. With phonics blending, students fluently join together the individual sound-spellings (also called letter-sound correspondence) in a word. With a word like jam , students start by sounding out each individual sound-spelling (/j/, //, /m/). Th

  • Rapid automatized naming tests: What you need to know

    - Rapid automatized naming (RAN) is the ability to quickly name aloud a series of familiar items. - There are a number of published RAN tests; theyre similar to one another. - RAN test scores can predict future reading skills. If your child is being tested for reading, executive functioning issu

  • 8 reasons kids might read slowly

    - There are lots of reasons kids may read slowly. - They might be very imaginative or have trouble with some aspects of reading. - Reading slowly doesnt mean kids arent smart. Reading is a process that involves a lot of skills. When kids read more slowly than other kids their age, it doesnt alw

  • Dyslexia testing results: What they mean for instruction and supports

    Interpreting dyslexia testing results can be tricky. Ask the evaluation team to clarify or explain things you don’t understand in your child’s evaluation report.

  • Reading skills at different ages

    Even as babies, kids build reading skills that set the foundation for learning to read. Heres a list of reading milestones by age. Keep in mind that kids develop reading skills at their own pace, so they may not be on this exact timetable. Babies (ages 012 months) - Begin to reach for soft-covered

  • Learning and thinking differences that cause trouble with reading

    - A number of learning and thinking differences can make reading hard. - They can cause trouble with different types of reading skills. - Different challenges require different strategies to help kids get better at reading. Kids can have trouble with reading for lots of reasons. Not all kids d

  • Why kids have trouble understanding or remembering what they read

    The act of reading is complex. Kids need a bunch of skills to both understand and remember what theyve read. Here are some reasons they might have a hard time with reading comprehension . Reading speed: Do they read slowly? The longer it takes to get through a sentence or paragraph, the harder it

  • Video: How second graders show they understand what they read

    How do you know if second graders understand what they read? Kids this age who understand what they are reading are usually able to answer questions about it. And they can point to the reasons behind their answers. Watch this video from Understood founding partner to learn more.

  • 4 reasons kids get anxious about reading — and how to help

    Reading helps lots of people unwind. But for some kids, reading is anything but relaxing. It stresses them out. Even just thinking about reading can put them on edge. Here are some common reasons kids get reading anxiety. 1. Trouble sounding out words Reading isnt fun when every word is a chore to