Why is fluency important in reading?

Fluency in reading is critical because it allows readers to shift their focus from decoding words to comprehending the text. When readers are fluent, they recognize words automatically and can read with proper expression and pacing. This automaticity frees cognitive resources, enabling them to concentrate on understanding the meaning of what they are reading. Essentially, fluency serves as a bridge between word recognition and comprehension, which is essential for effective reading. As students become more fluent, they can engage more deeply with the text, leading to better overall comprehension and retention of information.

The other choices do not adequately capture the central role of fluency in reading. While fluency may have secondary benefits in areas like vocabulary development or writing skills, its primary function is to facilitate a better understanding of the text through seamless reading.