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Fluency at 100 words a minute
Can do: Reads Grade 3 text at around 100 words a minute with phrasing and expression, silently as well as aloud.
Why it matters
Silent reading takes over this year. If oral fluency is weak, silent reading becomes staring at a page while thinking about something else.
What it looks like when it's wobbly
Fine aloud but retains nothing when reading silently — the classic sign that silent reading has become fake reading.
⏱️ Two-minute check
One minute aloud from a Grade 3 book, counting correct words. Then a silent page followed by a summary.
Solid looks like: Around 100 aloud, and a fair summary after silent reading.
The full activity for this topic · 15 minutes
Silent Then Say
- 1They read one page silently while you read your own book beside them.
- 2Close it. "Tell me what happened on that page."
- 3If it's thin, reread the page aloud together and compare how much more they got.
- 4Build to two pages, then a whole chapter.
- 5Do a timed aloud read once a week to keep an eye on the speed.
If it's too hard
Half a page, then recap.
If it's too easy
Read the chapter and then answer a question you wrote before they started.
Say this
"Reading silently only counts if your brain is saying it. Tell me what happened."