Arkansas Foundations of Reading Test (FORT)

What is a key characteristic of the progression of fluency development?

1. Use complex grammatical structures early on

2. Automatically recognize high-frequency words

3. Avoid re-reading texts

4. Immediate comprehension of all text types

The correct answer is: Automatically recognize high-frequency words

Automatically recognizing high-frequency words is essential to the development of reading fluency. As students become familiar with these common words, they can read more smoothly and efficiently. This automatic recognition allows them to focus their cognitive resources on understanding the meaning of the text rather than decoding individual words. When students can recognize high-frequency words at a glance, they are able to build their reading fluency, which ultimately enhances their overall comprehension and enjoyment of reading. In contrast, using complex grammatical structures too early could hinder the development of fluency, as students may struggle with comprehension and expression. Avoiding re-reading texts would negate the benefits of practice and mastery over word recognition and comprehension skills, which are crucial for fluency development. Lastly, immediate comprehension of all text types is unrealistic, as fluency is a progressive skill that requires time and consistent exposure to various text forms for full understanding.