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Review by Stacy Zeiger, Common Sense Education | Updated May 2014

FluencyFinder

Tool lets teachers save time, track data while testing reading fluency

Subjects & skills
Subjects
  • English Language Arts
  • English-Language Learning
Skills
  • Character & SEL
  • Critical Thinking
Grades This grade range is based on learning appropriateness and doesn't take into account privacy. It's determined by Common Sense Education, not the product's publisher.
1–8
Great for:
Common Sense says (See details)
Teachers say (1 Review)
Privacy rating (How we rate)
Not yet rated
Platforms:  iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch

Take a look inside

5 images
Quickly assess student reading fluency.
Add students manually and organize them alphabetically.
See multiple reading passages for each grade-level.
See the passage, the counter, and the timer all in one place.
After assessing fluency, quickly check comprehension.

Pros: Multiple texts are provided at each grade level; printable versions of texts are on the website.

Cons: Requires manual entry of student names, and, although it tracks data, it does not analyze it.

Bottom Line: Makes the process of testing reading fluency easier by providing a timer, mistake counter, and data collection in one place.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

Teachers can use FluencyFinder to test students' reading fluency from first grade through eighth grade. They can assess fluency using the same passage multiple times during the year to help gauge improvement, or use a variety of passages to help understand a student's reading fluency at different levels and with different types of texts. Although the app does encourage teachers to print the passages, which are found on the developer's website, teachers without access to a printer could have students read the text on the app while they mark mistakes using the counter. Those who want to save paper can also print one copy of each passage they plan to use, and use the same copy with multiple students. Once teachers have assessed reading fluency, they can export scores to share them with parents or to use as part of their own data collection and organization.

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Standards:

Editor's Note: FluencyFinder is no longer available for download.

FluencyFinder has a simple design, but it was developed to save teachers time when testing reading fluency. Teachers add students' names to the app, and can also add grade levels and class periods. To begin, teachers select a student and a reading passage. FluencyFinder's website contains printable files of all the passages; teachers can print them for students to read as the teacher follows along on the iPad. As the student reads, the teacher uses the timer to determine the student's reading speed, and the counter to mark where the student makes mistakes. At the end of the assessment, the teacher has the option to move on to the comprehension section, which consists of three basic questions related to the passage. The teacher marks whether each response exceeds expectations, meets expectations, or needs improvement. The assessment report includes words per minute, comprehension score, number of mistakes, and details about the passage, including the Flesch-Kincaid level, word count, and reading ease score. Each student's results are stored within the app and can be exported by email to parents or used as part of a more in-depth analysis.

A teacher created FluencyFinder to save teachers time while assessing students' reading fluency. The app accomplishes that purpose by providing teachers with a stopwatch, counter, basic data tracking, and leveled reading passages -- all in one place. Not only does having all these items together save teachers time, it also keeps them organized, giving them one place to track all students' reading fluency assessments and making it easy to export the data.

The leveled passages provide enough variety to thoroughly test students' reading fluency, combining various levels of texts and a variety of informational and fictional passages. The app assumes, however, that those assessing reading fluency understand how to analyze the data and does not offer an analysis, other than a chart on the FluencyFinder website showing average reading speed by grade level. It also doesn't offer any charts or graphs that could help teachers quickly see how a student's fluency has improved over time. The lack of those features doesn't affect the app's potential to help teachers quickly assess fluency; it just means those new to fluency assessment will need extra support when analyzing the results.

Overall Rating
Engagement Would it motivate students and hold their interest? Is it visually appealing? Would it inspire teachers to try something new or change their instruction?

Multiple reading passages at each level add variety and help connect to different student interests.

Pedagogy Does the tool help teachers promote a more student-centered experience? Will students gain conceptual understanding or think critically? Does it deepen teachers’ pedagogical thinking?

Teachers can add multiple students and find passages to meet those students' needs.

Support Can students and teachers get assistance when they need it? Is it created with people of different abilities and backgrounds in mind? Is learning reinforced and extended beyond the digital experience?

Tools track data over time; accompanying website provides additional information and printable passages.

Common Sense Reviewer
Stacy Zeiger Homeschooling parent
About our ratings and privacy evaluation.

Key Standards Supported

Reading Foundational Skills

  • RF.1.4

    Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.

  • RF.1.4a

    Read on-level text with purpose and understanding.

  • RF.1.4b

    Read on-level text orally with accuracy, appropriate rate, and expression on successive readings.

  • RF.2.4

    Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.

  • RF.2.4a

    Read on-level text with purpose and understanding.

  • RF.2.4b

    Read on-level text orally with accuracy, appropriate rate, and expression on successive readings.

  • RF.3.4

    Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.

  • RF.3.4a

    Read on-level text with purpose and understanding.

  • RF.3.4b

    Read on-level prose and poetry orally with accuracy, appropriate rate, and expression on successive readings

  • RF.4.4

    Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.

  • RF.4.4a

    Read on-level text with purpose and understanding.

  • RF.4.4b

    Read on-level prose and poetry orally with accuracy, appropriate rate, and expression on successive readings.

  • RF.5.4

    Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.

  • RF.5.4a

    Read on-level text with purpose and understanding.

  • RF.5.4b

    Read on-level prose and poetry orally with accuracy, appropriate rate, and expression on successive readings.

Reading Informational Text

  • RI.6.10

    By the end of the year, read and comprehend literary nonfiction in the grades 6–8 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.

  • RI.7.10

    By the end of the year, read and comprehend literary nonfiction in the grades 6–8 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.

  • RI.8.10

    By the end of the year, read and comprehend literary nonfiction at the high end of the grades 6–8 text complexity band independently and proficiently.

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Teacher Reviews

Featured review by
Jennifer K. , Other
Other
Newark City Schools
Newark, United States
Good RTI Intervention
Fluency Finder monitors students fluency through short reading passages. The app is easy to use by students and teachers. My teachers had some freezing issues with the app, however recent updates. One of the drawbacks to the app is that there is not a consistent number of reading passages at each level, which might present issues while using the app.
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Privacy Rating

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