A common question I get asked is “What level is this reader for?” Another question I get asked is “Which readers do you use in level ___?” I have even recently seen a teacher create an online poll asking other teachers to VOTE for the...

13 March, 2018 /

Remember that READING is just a tool for providing a comprehensible platform to facilitate various interpersonal exchanges. For students to acquire language, you have to be in the language, and to sustain interaction, you need an interesting topic and comprehensible language. That’s what Fluency Matters...

06 March, 2018 /

The Power of Stories by Emily Ibrahim When I first began teaching elementary school Spanish, getting my students to remember vocabulary in Spanish was like pulling teeth. I only saw them once a week for forty minutes (can any other elementary school language teachers relate?!) and they...

27 February, 2018 /

Last week, I was given the opportunity to attend The Joint National Committee for Languages/The National Council for Languages and International Studies (JNCL-NCLIS) Language Advocacy Day in Washington D.C. as a representative of the Illinois Council on Teaching of Foreign Languages (ICTFL). Although I saw many familiar...

20 February, 2018 /

Movie Talk originated as an element of the Focal Skills approach developed in the 1990s by ESL instructor Dr. Ashley Hastings. Movie Talk is an essential component in developing what is known in Focal Skills as the “Listening Module.” In Focal Skills, students spend intensive...

14 February, 2018 /

Before you read Carrie's blog post, the Fluency Matters Team thought it might be a good idea to hear from Carol Gaab, the Editor in Chief at Fluency Matters: I won't go as far as saying that writing a good story is easy. I would, however,...

06 February, 2018 /

If you have ever uttered or heard the following questions/comments, then you should definitely read on: “My administrators gave me a bad evaluation, because s/he said my class Is not student-centered.” “My supervisor said that I am talking too much, that my class is too...

30 January, 2018 /

Every semester I have my Spanish 2 students do a short piece of writing in class that is assessed as part of their semester exam. Usually at the end of the semester, students are quite stressed and feeling less than inspired. I have found that...

23 January, 2018 /

Have you ever wondered why Fluency Matters refers to its novels as ‘comprehension-based readers’ ? The answer is because a novel is merely a story that is told using random language. Our readers are anything but random! They are strategically written and painstakingly edited to ensure...

16 January, 2018 /

The ‘holidays’ can be one of the most exciting and uplifting times of year for some and utterly painful for others. Some of our colleagues and friends are going through health crises, others are grieving the loss of loved ones, and others are just plain...

19 December, 2017 /

  We have had quite a devote following of racers and fans during our "12 days of Fluency" Amazing Christmas Race! The enthusiasm has overwhelmed us with the joy of giving, and it was so much fun, we decided to give one final gift! No racing,...

13 December, 2017 /

Today's Gift: A free class set (25) of any comprehension-based reader published by Fluency Matters (includes FREE SHIPPING!) This is a race! Only the first *3* people to finish the mission will claim the prize! Once you have cracked the code, put the selected Fluency Matters Reader in your cart,...

12 December, 2017 /

Today’s Gift: A free class 5-month e-course subscription for the reader of your choice for up to 150 students. (limited to available titles) IMPORTANT NOTE TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE: You must check the box “Enable group registration” (above the quantity field)!...

08 December, 2017 /

The clues for the 12 Days of Fluency Amazing Christmas Race will post at the following time: 12:30 p.m. Pacific 1:30 p.m. Mountain 2:30 p.m. Central 3:30 p.m. Eastern Need ideas to occupy students with some type of CI during today's race? -- Independent reading, FVR, SSR or other independent reading --...

08 December, 2017 /

Today’s Gift: One free audio book download for any reader published by Fluency Matters (Make sure you select a DOWNLOAD if you win! CDs are not eligible!) This is a race! Only the first 12 people to finish the mission will claim the prize! Congratulations...

04 December, 2017 /

This Christmas we are celebrating YOU and all of the wonderful teachers who make up the Fluency Matters family. We are extremely grateful for your support and encouragement throughout the year and want to show just how much...

29 November, 2017 /

The Fluency Matters Team has just returned from an amazing learning experience at ACTFL 2017, and although we are exhausted, we are invigorated! Our team presented to several hundred dedicated educators, some who already use comprehension-based strategies and others who are just beginning to transition...

21 November, 2017 /

ACTFL 2017 is just days away, and the excitement for the largest language conference in the U.S. is certainly growing! There are literally hundreds of sessions (870 to be exact) to choose from, so planning ahead is vital to a successful conference. Of the 870...

15 November, 2017 /