Beyond Speed: The Art and Science of Reading Fluency
Assess, Teach, and Strengthen Fluent Reading
Discover how to assess and teach reading fluency with confidence. Explore practical strategies that build automaticity, expression, and comprehension while meeting the needs of every reader.
- Classroom Teachers & Interventionists
- Literacy Coaches & Teacher Leaders
- District & School Leaders
- Literacy Collaborative Affiliation Discount available
Join us for this energizing one-day workshop where you’ll dive into the key dimensions of reading fluency and discover practical strategies to boost students’ automaticity and expression. You’ll learn how to assess students’ reading fluency with confidence and integrate effective fluency instruction into your whole-group, small-group, and individualized teaching—all designed to help every reader build confidence, comprehension, and joy.
You will analyze recordings of students’ reading to identify strengths and areas of need and learn how to teach for fluency across your literacy block.
Topics:
- Fluency at four levels of processing: letter, word, phrase/sentence, and text
- Six dimensions of fluency
- Assessing for fluency
- Teaching for automaticity and fluency (Whole group, small group, and individual)
- The connection between comprehension and fluency
You will earn 5 professional clock hours upon completion of this training.
Heather Rodman, Literacy Trainer
Heather Rodman has been a Literacy Trainer at Lesley University’s Center for Literacy Teaching and Instructional Leadership for 12 years. As a former elementary classroom teacher and literacy coach, she brings 30 years of experience in literacy education, instructional coaching, and professional learning. Heather works with educators, literacy coaches, and school leaders to develop teacher expertise that leads to student success.
Required Materials
- Prompting Guide Part 1 for Oral Reading and Early Writing (mailed to you as part of registration)
Please note:
- Participants need to audio record 1-3 students reading orally for 2-3 minutes prior to this training. These recordings will be used to practice assessing fluency and planning for fluency instruction.
Cancellation Deadline & Refund Policies
You have until one week before the first day of this offering to cancel your registration. The cancellation deadline is Tuesday, December 1, 2026 and you will be charged a $50 processing fee. Email centerliteracyteaching@lesley.edu if you have a cancellation or substitution request. Regardless of weather conditions, if the event is held but you cannot attend, you will be billed for the full amount.
Registration Deadline
The registration deadline is 5pm on December 7, 2026.
If you register within the week before the start of this training, you may experience delays in receiving the required professional texts included with your registration and you may incur additional fees for expedited shipping.
Requirements for Participation
After the training, you will receive a certificate of attendance for your participation. To receive a complete certificate, participation during the specified times is required. Additional work may be assigned to meet the professional development hours.
In-Person at Lesley University or Virtual Attendance
You may choose to attend this training in-person at Lesley University or virtually in real time. Should any of the conditions change and it is determined the training will be offered virtually only, you will be notified as soon as possible. We recommend that you contact us before reserving travel and lodging.
If you choose to attend in-person, the training room will have Lesley University’s HyFlex Classroom Technology to support an engaging learning environment for in-person and virtual participants. If you have questions about in-person or virtual attendance, please email us at centerliteracyteaching@lesley.edu.
Interested in professional learning at your school or district? Schedule a meeting with one of our faculty trainers.
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