- Definition
Fluency in math means your child can do math problems quickly and correctly, and also explain how they got their answer and why it makes sense.
Instead of reading 'The... dog... ran... fast,' a fluent reader reads 'The dog ran fast' with a smooth, natural pace.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Reading with fluency is like telling a familiar story — your voice flows smoothly and naturally, instead of sounding out each word one by one.
Ask your child: Try reading this sentence so it sounds like a conversation.
Common mix-up: Kids often think fluency just means reading as fast as possible. True fluency is about reading smoothly and with expression, so it sounds like you're telling a story, not just saying words.
Examples
- Pausing at commas and periods to make the reading sound like natural speech.
- Reading smoothly enough that you can focus on what the story means, not just on the words.
fluency is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
