Many children can decode words, but still can't read smoothly. They pause at the wrong times, ignore punctuation, mispronounce words and have no expression. With a small time investment and this strategy, parents can help children significantly improve their reading fluency.

There are many fluency programs that carry various labels: Repeated reading, paired reading, shared reading, assisted reading, echo reading and guided repeated oral reading. Do not be frightened with all the names and programs. There are only three important points to know about the regular reading time that will improve fluency.

1. Oral reading – The reading time must be oral. Silent reading will not improve reading fluency. The child and adult will be reading and interacting aloud.
2. Opportunity for practice – Fluency is not an on or off switch. Fluent reading happens gradually and a child needs to correctly read a word four times in order for automatic word recognition to happen. Ideally, texts will be read 3 to 4 times. Consistency of practice is important, as well. Daily practice of 10 to 15 is far more beneficial than one hour weekly or bi-weekly.
3. Ongoing feedback – Feedback will occur in the form of modeling (when the adult takes their turn reading), with positive, gentle corrections. An adult may say "Oops, did you notice that period? or "Very close, you pronounce that word though."

How to do Paired or Repeated Reading

Begin with a text or book that the child can decode, ideally 19 out of 20 words can be read accurately by the child. Texts are often 50 to 200 words, but feel free to use any book, poem or lyrics that can be decoded. Children often like reading texts from a computer screen. The important point is that reading must be oral and repeated, at the appropriate level of difficulty.

The child and parent will take turns reading. Choose a method that works best for the child. The parent can read the entire text first and then the child can reread it two or three times. Sentences can be read by the adult and then repeated by the child. Finally, a parent and child can take turns reading paragraphs or pages. The same text should be repeated until it is read smoothly.

For children with learning disabilities or dyslexia, parents can use the read-along or neurological impress method where they read a text at the same time as the child. Sometimes the parent's voice will be a little louder or quicker then the voice of the child. This can be done with books-on-tape too, where a child reads along with the narrator. Following the text with a finger is a good idea too.

When to Start Teaching Reading Fluency

Even before children have mastered decoding, instruction can begin on fluency. Predictable books or books with patterns are ideal for early fluency lessons. Books such as Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, [Harper Collins Publishing, 1991] with repeated phrases are great for encouraging children to read the predicted text. After reading the book several times, parents can leave out the repeated phrase to allow the child to fill in the words.

For children to be good readers, they must become fluent readers. Parents can help children be better readers by offering lots of oral reading practice and positive feedback. With consistent regular reading sessions reading fluency can be improved.