CALT CALT Reading Fluency and Decoding Development 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which term describes the ability to read words accurately and quickly without conscious attention, freeing cognitive resources for comprehension?
- Fluency
- Automaticity (Correct answer)
- Prosody
- Decoding
Correct answer: Automaticity
Automaticity refers to fast, effortless word recognition that occurs without conscious phonological processing, a component of reading fluency.
Question 2: When teaching the VCe (vowel-consonant-e) syllable pattern, which instructional sequence is most aligned with Orton-Gillingham principles?
- Introduce the rule verbally, then have students read sentences containing VCe words
- Use multisensory techniques to teach the pattern, practice with phoneme manipulation, then decode words in isolation before connected text (Correct answer)
- Present a list of VCe words for memorization as sight words
- Read a decodable book with VCe words before explicitly teaching the pattern
Correct answer: Use multisensory techniques to teach the pattern, practice with phoneme manipulation, then decode words in isolation before connected text
Orton-Gillingham principles require explicit, multisensory introduction of the pattern followed by phoneme-level practice and systematic progression to words and then text.
Question 3: A second-grader reads connected text slowly by sounding out each phoneme of every word, even words she has decoded correctly many times. According to Simple View of Reading, this primarily affects:
- Linguistic comprehension
- Decoding accuracy
- Reading fluency and, consequently, reading comprehension (Correct answer)
- Phonological awareness
Correct answer: Reading fluency and, consequently, reading comprehension
Slow, effortful decoding consumes working memory, impairing fluency and limiting comprehension even when decoding accuracy is adequate.
Question 4: The term 'prosody' in oral reading fluency refers to which element?
- Reading rate measured in words per minute
- Accurate identification of individual phonemes
- Expression, phrasing, and intonation that reflects understanding of the text (Correct answer)
- The number of self-corrections made during reading
Correct answer: Expression, phrasing, and intonation that reflects understanding of the text
Prosody encompasses the rhythmic, expressive qualities of oral reading—pitch, stress, and phrasing—that signal meaning comprehension.
Question 5: Which assessment tool uses a 4-level rubric to rate expression, phrasing, smoothness, and pace in oral reading?
- DIBELS Oral Reading Fluency
- NAEP Oral Reading Fluency Scale (NAEP-ORFS) (Correct answer)
- Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark Assessment
- Gray Oral Reading Tests (GORT-5)
Correct answer: NAEP Oral Reading Fluency Scale (NAEP-ORFS)
The NAEP Oral Reading Fluency Scale uses a four-level holistic rubric rating expression/volume, phrasing, smoothness, and pace.
Question 6: A student accurately decodes CVC words but consistently misreads words with consonant blends (e.g., reads 'stop' as 'sop'). The most likely explanation is:
- Poor phonological awareness at the phoneme blending level for clusters (Correct answer)
- Inadequate sight word memory
- Weak morphological awareness
- A deficit in R-controlled vowel recognition
Correct answer: Poor phonological awareness at the phoneme blending level for clusters
Difficulty with consonant blends indicates the student has not yet developed the phoneme segmentation and blending skills needed to process clustered consonants.
Question 7: Partner reading and choral reading are both considered fluency interventions primarily because they:
- Remove the need for phonics instruction
- Provide models of fluent reading and supported practice with immediate feedback (Correct answer)
- Focus exclusively on comprehension monitoring strategies
- Replace oral reading with silent reading practice
Correct answer: Provide models of fluent reading and supported practice with immediate feedback
Both techniques expose students to fluent reading models and provide supported oral reading practice, key components of effective fluency instruction.
CALT CALT Reading Fluency and Decoding Development 5
Which term describes the ability to read words accurately and quickly without conscious attention, freeing cognitive resources for comprehension?