Improving Elementary Fluency Instruction through Professional Learning and Development

Research has proven that reading fluency is an important bridging process between word recognition and comprehension for early readers. However, many students in elementary classrooms across the United States struggle with the ability to read with sufficient accuracy, rate, and expression to make sense of the text they are reading. Additionally, many curricula, assessments, and professional development programs do not sufficiently incorporate reading fluency instruction, leaving teachers and students without adequate knowledge about and practice of reading fluency. This project explores history, theories, and research-based practices that support reading fluency development. It also explores research behind the importance of effective professional development. Finally, it details a project that aims to increase students’ ability to read fluently at the K-5 level through a professional development series that strives to inform teachers of best practices in reading fluency and give time, space, and practice to implement fluency strategies.