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 timed reading assessment. 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. Start timing when the student begins reading the first word of the passage (the student will not read the title). After one minute, say "Stop," stop the timer, and circle the last word read.

Resist the urge to correct errors during the reading. Errors and self-correction will be accounted for in the score. If the student has extreme difficulty, stop the assessment. Reassure the student that she or he will redo the assessment after further instruction and practice.

During the assessment, follow along word-by-word on your copy of the passage. 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 errors:

• 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. Write the student's goal rate in the box provided.
2. 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 (WPM) rate. Write this in the chart at the bottom, along with the date of the reading.
3. Count the number of errors (slashes). Record the number in the "Errors" line for the read.
4. Subtract the number of errors from the total number of words read to find the words correct per minute (WCPM).
5. Divide the words correct per minute (WCPM) by the words per minute (WPM) and multiply this result by 100. This is the student's Accuracy/Reading Rate percentage.
6. 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.