Fluency Timed Reading

Timed Reading Procedures

You will need:

• Two copies of the assessment passage—one for the student and one for the instructor
• Stopwatch or clock
• Pencil
• Clipboard (so students will not see what you are writing)

Administer a one-minute reading, starting the stopwatch when the student begins the first word of the passage (the student will not read titles). Tell the student that if she or he has trouble (struggling for more than 3 to 5 seconds), you will say the word so she or he can keep reading. After one minute, say "Stop," stop the stopwatch, and circle the last word read.

During the reading, resist the urge to correct mistakes. Mistakes and self-correction will be accounted for in the score. If the student has extreme difficulty, stop the test. Reassure the student that she or he will redo the assessment after further reading practice. You should select a lower level passage for the next assessment.

Follow along on your copy word by word with your pencil. Make a slash ( / ) through any words the student misses or cannot read without help. Mark a dash above words skipped. Errors include:

• Skipped words
• Mispronounced words
• Word substitutions, including incorrect forms of the word
• Words in the wrong order; both or all words are counted as wrong
• Struggling that lasts for 3 to 5 seconds, or more

The following are not considered misses:

• Added words
• Varying pronunciation due to accent, dialect, or speech impediment
• Repetitions in which the wording is correct
• Self-correcting a mistake; the word is scored as correct.

Timed Reading Scoring

1. Count the total words the student reads in one minute using the words-per-line totals listed in the margin. This is the student's words-per-minute reading rate. Mark this on the chart at the bottom, along with the date of the reading.
2. Count the number of errors (slashes). Record the number in the "errors" box under 1 if this is the first reading, 2 if it is the second reading, and so on.
3. Subtract the number of errors from the total number of words read to find the number of correct words read.
4. Divide the number of correct words by the total words read and multiply this result by 100. This is the student's accuracy percentage.
5. Record this number in the box.

After about four to six readings, students should reach the target words-per-minute standard for their grade level with an accuracy rate of 90 to 95 percent.

Example:

Reading Sentence Procedures

The Reading Sentences forms are used as an additional comprehension check to ensure that students attend to both speed and meaning.

1. Select the form that is the best fit for the student's reading level.
2. Follow the Timed Reading Procedures when administering the assessment.
3. To score this assessment, divide the total number of sentences answered correctly by the total number of sentences read. Multiply by 100 to get a percentage.

The target score is 80% or more of sentences with a correct true or false answer.

As the Reading Sentences forms are an assessment of the student's comprehension of sentences in a timed reading environment, and the student is required to answer the questions, there is no target words-per-minute standard.