tips for Improving Reading Fluency at Home

With the support of parents and teachers, kids can learn strategies to cope with fluency issues that affect his or her reading. Below are some tips and specific strategies to implement.

What students can do to help themselves

• Track the words with your finger as a parent or teacher reads a passage aloud. Then you read it.
• Have a parent or teacher read aloud to you then match your voice to theirs.
• Read your favorite books and poems over and over. Practice getting smoother and reading with expression.

What parents can do to help at home

• Support and encourage your child. Realize that he or she is likely frustrated by reading.
• Check with your child's teachers to find out their assessment of your child's word decoding skills.
• If your child can decode words well, help him or her build speed and accuracy by:

1. • Reading aloud and having your child match his or her voice to yours
   • Having your child practice reading the same list of words, phrases, or short passages several times (you can search the Internet for the 300 Most Common Words in English)
   • Remind your child to pause between sentences and phrases
   • Read aloud to your child to provide an example of how fluent reading sounds
   • Give your child books with predictable vocabulary and clear rhythmic patterns so the child can "hear" the sound of fluent reading as he or she reads the book aloud.
   • Use books on cd/tape; have the child follow along in the print copy
   • Plan on reading for at least 30 minutes a night. It can be a newsletter, pamphlet, magazine, etc.