Fluency Focus Group
Follow up

by Rebecca McKay Director, Literacy and Professional Development

The Cornerstone Framework is based on the interactive Model of Reading. Within this model, fluency is defined as a part of the lexical system. Here is an explanation of this cueing system from Ellin Keene’s new book: To Understand: New Horizons in Reading Comprehension. (p.115-117)

“The lexical system has not only to do with the recognition of basic sight words, but of all the words we are able to recognize and pronounce instantly, without having to pause to sound them out. Using the lexical system, we need not sound out words in order to pronounce them-we recall words from visual memory, in rapid succession, and we can them whether reading silently or orally. We are reading fluently. The lexical system may well be the most used system of the six-our eyes move over and perceive every, or nearly every, word we read. Overuse of phonics can make children disfluent. Often children need more practice in the lexical system. They need frequent visual exposure to many, many words in their classroom environment and in books. The lexical system has everything to do with fluency, yet many teachers know very little about it, and therefore do less to help readers build a large lexicon-a mental library of instantly recognized words. The goal is for every child to sound out a word when necessary, but never to do so twice for the same word. The word is stored in visual memory and the child understands that no matter what form it takes the word will always be read the same way. The lexical system also has to do with children’s spelling ability. Children who spell well are able to create an instant picture of the word in their minds as they write.  These same children who use the lexical system well are typically those who are surrounded with books and print in their classroom and home environment. Learners of all ages build a lexicon of instantly recognized words through continual exposure to them.”

In this month’s online newsletter, Kim shares the fluency lessons that  lead her students into their readers’ theatre productions for the Harris  kindergarten classes. Many thanks to the Harris Elementary staff, Deb Lantaigne,  Kim Gilbert, Mark McCann, and Laura Caron for leading us in this important adventure.