What does a fluency probe primarily assess?

A fluency probe primarily assesses reading speed and accuracy through timed oral passages. This assessment focuses on how quickly and correctly a student can read aloud a given text, providing insights into their reading fluency. Fluency is an important aspect of reading development, as it affects a student's ability to understand the material.

By measuring both speed and accuracy, fluency probes can identify areas where a student may struggle, allowing educators to tailor instruction to improve their reading proficiency. Other aspects of reading, such as comprehension levels and vocabulary usage, may indirectly benefit from enhanced fluency, but the primary aim of a fluency probe is to evaluate how efficiently and accurately a student can read aloud. Therefore, this type of assessment is a vital component of reading instruction and intervention strategies.