What is a key goal of teaching fluency to students?

A key goal of teaching fluency to students is to increase reading speed and expression. Fluency refers to the ability to read text smoothly and accurately at an appropriate pace, which allows readers to focus on understanding the content rather than decoding individual words. When students achieve fluency, they demonstrate an understanding of punctuation, phrasing, and intonation, which contributes to their overall reading comprehension.

Improving reading speed and expression is crucial because it serves as a foundation for effective communication and facilitates the enjoyment of reading. When students read fluently, they are better able to engage with and respond to the material, as they can quickly grasp ideas and themes without getting bogged down by the mechanics of decoding words.

While enhancing comprehension skills, improving social interaction, and developing spelling accuracy are important aspects of literacy and education, the primary focus of fluency instruction is on reading speed and expression, as these elements directly impact a student's ability to comprehend and engage with the text.