In educational contexts, why is fluency important?

Fluency is crucial in educational contexts primarily because it facilitates smoother reading and comprehension. When students are fluent readers, they can process text more efficiently, allowing them to focus on understanding the content rather than getting bogged down by decoding individual words. This level of fluency means that students are better able to grasp main ideas, make inferences, and engage critically with the material. As a result, they can participate more fully in discussions and use the information learned in practical applications, leading to a deeper and more meaningful educational experience.

While the ability to write essays quickly, improve pronunciation, or create artwork may also be valuable skills, they do not encapsulate the primary educational benefit that fluency brings to reading and comprehension, which is foundational for academic success across various subjects.