Reading Fluency Table
Reading fluency has two components. The first component is the accuracy and the second is speed.
Accuracy is the percentage of words that are correctly read. For instructional purposes, accuracy is often divided into three levels: independent, instructional, and frustration.
Independent level - 98% or greater words correctly identified
Instructional level - 90% - 97% words correctly identified
Frustration level - below 90% words correctly identified
For example, if a student reads a 100 word passage and correctly identifies 93 of the words, the student read 93% of the words correctly and is at the instructional level. Instructional level material is reading material that requires some support, instruction, or additional practice.
Instruction might include vocabulary or phonics work.
If a student is reading 98% or more of the words correctly the material is at the student's independent level. Independent level material requires NO support or instruction. At this level, students read for enjoyment.
If a student correctly identifies less than 90% of the words correctly the reading material is TOO DIFFICULT for the student. At this error rate, comprehension of the material reading speed is often affected.
Rate of reading or speed is the second fluency factor. Beginning readers read slowly with great deliberation and skilled readers read quickly with ease. Oral and silent reading speeds differ. Beginning readers read more quickly orally, but by 4th grade the average student begins to read more quickly silently. For the purpose of our project, we will, for the most part, address oral reading rates because our assessments involve oral reading. The following table states the MINIMUM reading rate per grade level. Before a student is moved to a HIGHER reading level, he or she should be reading 98% or greater of the words correctly AND have a reading speed that is equal or greater to the next grade level's rate.
Grade level |
Minimum expected oral reading speed |
Speed of oral reading to move to next grade level of material |
1st |
60 |
70 + 98% or > CWM |
2nd |
70 |
90 + 98% or > CWM |
3rd |
90 |
120 + 98% or > CWM |
4th |
120 |
150 + 98% or > CWM |
5th |
150 |
> 150 WPM + 98% or > CWM |
CWM-Correct Words Per Minute; WPM - Words per Minute |
||