BUILDING READING COMPREHENSION AND FLUENCY USING POETRY Part 1

Struggling Readers? Let’s Talk About Fluency!

Have you ever listened to a student read and thought, Wow, they’re saying all the words... but do they even understand what they just read? Or maybe you have students who read so slowly that by the time they reach the end of the sentence, they’ve completely lost track of what it was about.

You’re not alone! Reading fluency is one of the biggest barriers to comprehension, and the latest NAEP report confirms what many of us see in the classroom—students are struggling with reading at grade level. And let’s be real, if fluency isn’t there, comprehension is going to take a hit.

So, what can we do? The good news is that fluency is teachable—and it doesn’t have to feel like one more thing on your already full plate.

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What is Reading Fluency (and Why Does It Matter)?

Fluency isn’t just about reading fast. It’s about reading accurately, smoothly, and with expression—so students can actually focus on the meaning instead of just sounding out words. When fluency is weak, students have to use so much brainpower just to decode that they don’t have much left to understand what they’re reading.

Fluency has three key parts:
✔ Accuracy – Reading words correctly (not guessing or skipping them).
✔ Rate – Reading at a pace that allows for understanding.
✔ Expression (Prosody) – Reading with phrasing and tone that reflects meaning.

If one of these is off, comprehension is going to suffer.

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What Can We Do in the Classroom?

So, how do we help students improve fluency without making it boring or overwhelming? Here are a few simple, high-impact strategies:

📖 Use Poetry! (Seriously, It’s a Game-Changer)

Poetry naturally supports fluency because of its rhythm, repetition, and phrasing. Plus, students actually enjoy it! Whether you’re introducing poetry, reinforcing reading strategies, or just looking for an engaging literacy activity, poetry gets kids thinking critically, reading fluently, and actually having fun with words.

💡 Try This:
✅ Use poems for whole-group lessons—model expressive reading and have students echo read.
✅ Have students read and analyze poems in small groups or centers.
✅ Let students perform poetry—reading with expression makes a huge difference!

Why Poetry is a great genere to use to introduce reading skills while practicing fluency,

Poetry is an amazing genre for teaching reading skills, higher-order thinking, and fluency because it offers rich, concise texts packed with meaning. Here's why:

1. Poetry Builds Fluency

Poems have rhythm, repetition, and structure, which naturally support reading fluency. When students read poetry aloud, they practice:

• Phrasing – Grouping words for meaning
• Expression – Using tone and emotion
• Pacing – Adjusting speed for comprehension

Example: Reading a poem with a steady beat, like a nursery rhyme or free verse, helps students improve their fluency while making reading more engaging.

2. Poetry Teaches Essential Reading Skills

Even short poems pack in critical reading skills like:

✔ Inferencing – Understanding unstated ideas
✔ Figurative Language – Identifying metaphors, similes, and personification
✔ Word Choice & Meaning – Examining how a single word can shift tone and mood
✔ Theme & Author’s Purpose – Analyzing deeper meanings behind poetic lines

Example: A student might read Langston Hughes’ Dreams and infer that the poem is about holding onto hope and ambition rather than just dreams themselves.

3. Poetry Models Higher-Order Thinking

Poetry naturally challenges students to:
🔹 Analyze word choice – Why did the poet use “whisper” instead of “said”?
🔹 Interpret symbolism – What does the “caged bird” in Maya Angelou’s poem represent?
🔹 Compare texts – How does one poet’s perspective on nature differ from another’s?

Since poems often leave room for interpretation, students engage in deep discussions and justifying their thinking, key components of higher-order comprehension skills.

4. Poetry Engages Students

Poems are short but powerful, making them less intimidating than longer texts. They also come in many forms—humorous, lyrical, narrative—so students can find something they connect with.

💡 How to Use Poetry in the Classroom:

📖 Whole-group lessons – Model close reading skills
👥 Small-group instruction – Scaffold fluency and comprehension
🎭 Performance readings – Boost fluency and confidence
📝 Poetry writing – Encourage creativity and application of reading skills

Poetry isn’t just for National Poetry Month—it’s a powerful tool all year long for building reading proficiency, thinking skills, and fluency!

POETRY BOOK SUGGESTONS:

My Top Favorite Poetry Books and Authors:

1. Bruce Lanskey's Poems
2. Ralph Nesbitt's  Poems
3. There's No Place Like School:  Classroom Poems
4. If Kids Ruled the School....
5. No More Homework, No More Test
6. Shel Siverstein Poems
7. Hip Hop Speaks To Children

    Poetry For Young People Series

• Emily Dickenson
• Maya Angelou
• Lewis Carrol
• Rober Frost

  Poetry for upper grades:

1.  Annabel  Lee
2.  The Raven
3.  Nikki Giovanni
4.  Out of Wonder
5.  Lemonade

           

📢 What are your favorite ways to build fluency in the classroom? Drop your ideas below! 👇

#ReadingFluency #PoetryInTheClassroom #BuildingComprehension #TeachingReading #SmallGroupInstruction