Reading comprehension and reading fluency are two of the five building blocks of reading identified by the National Reading Panel (NRP). (Click here to see the report.) Reading comprehension is the ability to understand what you read, which involves a combination of skills including vocabulary knowledge, reading fluency, and reading comprehension strategies (e.g., text recall, question answering, question generation, and summarization).

One of the most critical skills necessary for proficient reading comprehension is reading fluency. Reading fluency refers to the ability to "read orally with speed, accuracy, and proper expression." The amount of time and effort involved with decoding and deciphering text directly affects reading fluency. If too much time and effort is spent on decoding and deciphering, reading comprehension decreases. Consequently, both the level of reading fluency and reading comprehension directly relates to reading achievement (National Reading Panel, 2000).

Here is a list of Super Duper® materials to expand your student's reading fluency/comprehension skills. Click here to see research articles that support targeting these skills in order to improve a student's ability to read.