At Educational Pathways Academy (EPA), a private school for dyslexia and learning disabilities in Florida, our Reading Intervention and Literacy Program is designed to give students with learning differences the support they need to thrive. Through structured, multisensory instruction, our expert teachers guide students step by step, helping them read with accuracy, expression, and understanding. By focusing on fluency, we help students gain not just the ability to read words, but also the confidence to enjoy stories, understand what they read, and feel proud of their progress every day.

Student with dyslexia enjoys, building fluency, by using multisensory learning, at Educational Pathways Academy, a private school, for dyslexia, and learning disabilities, in Florida

What is Fluency?

Fluency is the ability to read text accurately, smoothly, and with natural expression. A fluent reader can recognize most words automatically and adjust their voice to match the meaning of the sentence, pausing at commas, using the right tone for questions, and grouping words into meaningful phrases. When reading sounds like natural speech, the brain isn’t working overtime to figure out each word. Instead, it can focus on the bigger goal: understanding the story.

Fluency is often called the bridge between decoding and comprehension. Early readers use a great deal of energy sounding out each word. While this effort is essential, it leaves little room for understanding the text. As fluency develops, word recognition becomes automatic. Students can visualize the action, connect ideas, and extract meaning from the text, unlocking true comprehension.

How We Build Fluency at EPA

Our Reading Intervention and Literacy Program includes a three-pronged approach to literacy: Orton-Gillingham, Literacy Lab, and Language Arts. Across all three classes, teachers incorporate activities that strengthen reading fluency. Whether students are practicing on specialized computer programs in Literacy Lab, reading one-on-one with a teacher, or exploring rich stories in Language Arts, every part of the program works together to build automatic word recognition and comprehension.

Fluency is especially emphasized in our Orton-Gillingham (OG) classes, where multisensory, hands-on instruction strengthens reading skills and fluency through engaging practice.

Fluency Fun in Orton-Gillingham Class

In Orton-Gillingham (OG) class, students see, hear, say, and move as they work with sounds and words, building strong brain connections that make reading easier. Teachers guide students through repeated readings, model expressive reading, and encourage group activities like choral or echo reading, giving students the tools to read with accuracy and confidence.

Students with dyslexia enjoy, building fluency, through multisensory learning, at Educational Pathways Academy, a private school for dyslexia, and learning disabilities, in Florida

A highlight of these lessons is Fluency Fun, an interactive class activity that makes practice exciting and memorable. During Fluency Fun, students rotate through themed stations where they read words or phrases in creative ways that encourage smooth, expressive reading.

In Rockstar Fluency, students grab a toy microphone to choral read together with clear, confident voices. At Monster Fluency, they use a monster finger pointer while reading and take turns with a partner. In Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo Fluency, a “magic wand” guides their eyes to scoop phrases smoothly. Another favorite station, Bookworm Fluency, uses a worm-shaped FingerFocus® Highlighter ring to help students track words as they read. Each activity provides hands-on, playful practice that strengthens instant word recognition, natural phrasing, and expressive reading. Most importantly, students leave the room smiling, proud of how much stronger and more fluent their reading has become.