Reading Fluency and Comprehension Development

Reading fluency is an integral component of text comprehension. One essential aspect of this relationship involves developing automatic word recognition. According to automaticity theory, this process allows students to shift their attention away from decoding and toward the construction of meaning. However, prosodic elements, such as pitch, emphasis, and appropriate phrasing, also contribute to fluent reading, and comprehension in unique ways. This chapter discusses the theory and research that connect fluency to comprehension. The role of repeated and wide reading in fluency development is explored, and research comparing the effectiveness of the two approaches is reviewed. The need to incorporate challenging texts with scaffolding as part of effective instruction is emphasized. The chapter further highlights fluency’s role in the broader reading process as well as the situational nature of the construct. Finally, future directions for research are suggested.