Why is it important to teach students both comprehension strategies and fluency?

Teaching students both comprehension strategies and fluency is crucial because these skills are interdependent and collectively contribute to their overall literacy development. Fluency involves the ability to read text smoothly and with appropriate expression, which allows students to focus their cognitive resources on understanding the text rather than struggling with word recognition. When students are fluent, they can read at an appropriate pace that enhances their engagement with the content.

On the other hand, comprehension strategies equip students with the tools needed to make sense of the text, draw inferences, and connect ideas. When students combine fluency with effective comprehension strategies, they are better positioned to grasp complex ideas, analyze different texts, and critically reflect on what they read. This integrated approach fosters a deeper understanding of material and supports the development of a lifelong reading habit, enhancing both their academic and personal lives.

This holistic perspective also contrasts with the idea of teaching skills in isolation, indicating that the most effective reading instruction engages students in a way that promotes both skill sets in tandem.