What does assessing fluency include in a student's reading evaluation?

Assessing fluency in a student's reading evaluation encompasses several key components that are essential to understanding their overall reading proficiency. Scoring on accuracy, rate, and prosody is crucial because fluency is defined not just by how quickly a student can read but also by how well they read with expression and accuracy.

Accuracy refers to the ability to read words correctly, which is foundational to comprehension. Rate indicates the speed at which a student reads; a fluent reader should be able to read smoothly and quickly compared to a non-fluent reader, who may struggle with both speed and accuracy. Prosody relates to the rhythm, intonation, and expression in reading, which helps convey meaning and makes the reading engaging. Together, these elements help paint a complete picture of a student's reading fluency.

In contrast, focusing solely on narrative skills, evaluating speed without context, or concentrating strictly on vocabulary usage does not provide a comprehensive assessment of fluency. These aspects are certainly important in their own right but do not encompass the multifaceted nature of fluency, which is best captured through a combination of accuracy, rate, and prosody.