Five Ways to Move Away from Sound by Sound Reading and Build Fluency
Episode Summary:
If you’ve ever had a student who reads “c...a...t...” and by the time they finish the sentence, they can’t remember what it was about, this episode is for you!
Today, we're diving into a super common (and totally normal!) stage of early reading: sound-by-sound decoding — why students get stuck there, and how to help them move into smoother, more confident word reading.
You’ll walk away with simple, practical steps you can start using tomorrow to bridge the gap from choppy decoding to fluent reading.
In This Episode, You'll Learn:
Why students get stuck in sound-by-sound reading
How to check and strengthen decoding foundations
Blending strategies that actually make reading easier
How to use blending lines for daily fluency practice
What comes next after students move past sound-by-sound reading
Key Takeaways:
✅ Accuracy always comes before speed — strengthen the foundation first
✅ Teach and model blending explicitly (traditional, successive, and continuous)
✅ Use blending lines daily for structured, targeted practice
✅ Celebrate small wins — fluency is built word by word!
Connect With Me:
Instagram: @literacyedventures
Website: Literacy Edventures
If You Loved This Episode:
You will LOVE these Blog Posts:
5 Research-Backed Strategies to Build Reading Fluency That Actually Work
From Sounds to Words – Helping Students Move Past Sound-by-Sound Reading
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