What

Automaticity is achieved when students quickly and accurately recognize words.

Prosody occurs when a student reads aloud with expression.

Fluency is the ability to read connected text orally with speed, accuracy, and proper expression.

Decodable text is text that a student may read with 95% accuracy, struggling with no more than 1 out of 20 words.

Why

When students read slowly and laboriously, it becomes very difficult for them to remember the ideas expressed in text.  Reading fluency is critical for reading comprehension, allowing students to use their background knowledge, increase their vocabulary and reading skills, and make connections to text.  Instruction and repeated oral reading practice has a significant, positive impact on fluency and comprehension. (National Reading Panel, 2006)

To be effective, practice must be at a student’s independent reading level with decodable text.  (Allington, 2000)

How

During every lesson, students read controlled text, written at their level, practicing concepts they‘re learning and experiencing success.  As students progress through the Wilson program, Heidi Hildebrandt, Owner and Tutor at Steps 2 Reading, LLC, guides them in reading non-controlled text, encouraging them to apply their skills to more difficult passages.