Fluency and comprehension are distinct but interconnected aspects of reading. Fluency refers to how a person reads, while comprehension refers to what a person understands from their reading. According to the provided reference, a proficient reader possesses both strong fluency and comprehension skills.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Fluency vs. Comprehension
| Feature | Fluency | Comprehension |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Speed and accuracy of decoding words. | Ability to understand what you are reading. |
| Focus | Reading words efficiently and effortlessly. | Making sense of the text's meaning. |
| Key Aspects | Speed, accuracy, prosody (expression). | Understanding vocabulary, main ideas, details. |
| Assessment | Words read correctly per minute (WCPM). | Answering questions about the text. |
Elaboration on the Differences
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Reading Fluency: Focuses on the mechanics of reading. It emphasizes the ability to quickly and accurately recognize words without significant effort. This allows the reader to allocate more cognitive resources to understanding the text.
- Example: A fluent reader can read a passage smoothly and at an appropriate pace, with correct pronunciation.
-
Reading Comprehension: Focuses on the meaning derived from the text. It involves understanding the vocabulary, identifying the main ideas, grasping the author's purpose, and making inferences.
- Example: A reader with good comprehension can summarize a passage, answer questions about it, and relate it to their own experiences.
Why Both are Important
The reference highlights that both fluency and comprehension are necessary for proficient reading. If a student struggles with fluency, they may spend too much time decoding words, leaving them with insufficient cognitive resources to understand the meaning. Conversely, a student who is fluent but lacks comprehension may be able to read quickly but not understand what they've read.
Proficient Reader
The text defines a proficient reader as someone whose reading fluency and reading comprehension are at grade level.
