First grade is a big year for readers! During this time, students make important strides in learning how to read smoothly, accurately, and with expression—skills that together are known as reading fluency. Reading fluency is the ability to read words correctly, at a steady pace, and with appropriate expression. When children are fluent readers, they spend less time trying to figure out words and more time understanding the story or information they are reading. Fluency is a bridge between learning to read and reading to learn.
What We Are Doing To Support Reading Fluency At School
Students receive a minimum of 135 minutes of high-quality reading instruction each day. This time includes both whole-group and small-group instruction focused on essential literacy components such as phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, comprehension, and reading fluency. Together, these elements build a strong foundation for successful readers.
By utilizing CKLA Amplify for whole-group instruction and UFLI for targeted small-group support, our 1st grade students have shown measurable growth! According to the FAST screener, the percentage of 1st grade students performing at or above benchmark increased from 68% in the fall to 74% in the winter. One of the most powerful ways to support this growth is through regular reading at home.
Why Practice at Home Is So Important
While students work hard on reading during the school day, classroom time alone isn’t enough to build strong fluency. Just like learning a sport or musical instrument, reading improves with frequent practice. Reading at home gives children extra opportunities to practice skills introduced at school in a relaxed, supportive environment.
Daily reading:
Builds confidence and independence
Strengthens word recognition
Improves reading speed and accuracy
Supports better comprehension
20 minutes a day can make a big difference! Don’t forget to fill out those reading logs for every 20 minutes of reading you do at home!
How Families Can Help
You don’t need to be a reading expert to support your child. Simple routines go a long way:
Have your child read aloud to you each day
Encourage rereading favorite books (this boosts fluency!)
Listen patiently and celebrate effort, not perfection
Talk about the story to build understanding and enjoyment
Most importantly, keep reading time positive and pressure-free.
Building Lifelong Readers
When families make reading a regular part of daily life, children begin to see it as something enjoyable and meaningful—not just a school task. This shared time helps build strong reading habits, confidence, and a lifelong love of books.
Thank you for partnering with us to support your first grader’s reading journey. Together, we can help our young readers grow into fluent, confident learners!
