Reading fluency has been identified as a key component of proficient reading. Research has consistently demonstrated significant and substantial correlations between reading fluency and overall reading achievement. Despite the great potential for fluency to have a significant outcome on students’ reading achievement, it continues to be not well understood by teachers, school administrators and policy makers. The chapters in this volume examine reading fluency from a variety of perspectives. The initial chapter sketches the history of fluency as a literacy instruction component. Following chapters examine recent studies and approaches to reading fluency, followed by chapters that explore actual fluency instruction models and the impact of fluency instruction. Assessment of reading fluency is critical for monitoring progress and identifying students in need of intervention. Two articles on assessment, one focused on word recognition and the other on prosody, expand our understanding of fluency measurement. Finally, a study from Turkey explores the relationship of various reading competencies, including fluency, in an integrated model of reading. Our hope for this volume is that it may spark a renewed interest in research into reading fluency and fluency instruction and move toward making fluency instruction an even more integral part of all literacy instruction.

While most children learn to read fairly well, there remain many young Americans whose futures are imperiled because they do not read well enough to meet the demands of our competitive, technology-driven society. This book explores the problem within the context of social, historical, cultural, and biological factors. Recommendations address the identification of groups of children at risk, effective instruction for the preschool and early grades, effective approaches to dialects and bilingualism, the importance of these findings for the professional development of teachers, and gaps that remain in our understanding of how children learn to read. Implications for parents, teachers, schools, communities, the media, and government at all levels are discussed. The book examines the epidemiology of reading problems and introduces the concepts used by experts in the field. In a clear and readable narrative, word identification, comprehension, and other processes in normal reading development are discussed. Against the background of normal progress, Preventing Reading Difficulties in Young Children examines factors that put children at risk of poor reading. It explores in detail how literacy can be fostered from birth through kindergarten and the primary grades, including evaluation of philosophies, systems, and materials commonly used to teach reading.

"The book′s major strengths are its ease of use and the range of approaches to address many different reading issues. You can read straight through for a host of ideas, or you can pinpoint exactly which kind of strategy to explore." —Kristie Mary Betts, English Teacher Peak to Peak High School, Lafayette, CO "Bottom line: This book is reader friendly! Teachers in the content areas can quickly and easily find specific ideas to help students." —Barbara L. Townsend, Reading Specialist Elkhorn Area School District, WI Help for students who are overwhelmed, feel confused, can′t remember, lack language skills, or just don′t get it. In today′s era of accountability, teachers are expected to help all secondary students understand complex concepts and ideas and demonstrate proficiency on high-stakes tests. To promote success for struggling readers in all content areas, expert educator Elaine K. McEwan offers 40 user-friendly and easy-to-implement strategies in an invaluable text that includes three tables of contents (traditional, topical, and problem-solving) formatted for quick and easy reference. Each of the 40 research-based and classroom-tested techniques features: An intriguing quotation or definition to grab your attention A brief description of the method and suggestions for implementation Recommended resources to gain a more in-depth understanding of the method Research citations to demonstrate the power of the method to get results Offering cross-references and advance organizers throughout, this book provides the specific yet comprehensive information you need to support all students with reading difficulties.

This user-friendly guide has been thoroughly revised to reflect significant changes in the way schools deliver reading instruction and intervention, especially for students at risk for reading failure. Step-by-step strategies target key areas of literacy development: phonological awareness, fluency, and comprehension. Particular emphasis is placed on scientifically based practices that do not require major curricular change and can be applied with students of varying ages and ability levels. In a large-size format with lay-flat binding for ease of photocopying, the book includes 17 reproducible assessment and instructional tools. Purchasers also get access to a Web page where they can download and print the reproducible materials. This book is in The Guilford Practical Intervention in the Schools Series, edited by T. Chris Riley-Tillman. New to This Edition: *Chapter on multi-tiered intervention delivery, plus additional discussion in other relevant chapters. *Chapter on interventions for English learners (ELs). *Chapter on vocabulary instruction, intervention, and assessment. *Additional graphing and data-analysis tools. *Coverage of new resources available through federal supports.