Phonics-Based Timed Passages for Older Struggling Readers
Looking for fluency passages that actually work for older students? This resource is designed specifically for upper elementary readers who need structured phonics support without babyish stories or visuals.
These 15 narrative-style fluency passages are:
✔️ Structured by phonics skill
✔️ Written with quirky, age-appropriate humor
✔️ Ideal for grades 3–6, intervention, special education, and ELL
Each passage is ~130–160 words and includes a fluency tracker for 1-minute reads, along with a progress graph to monitor WPM growth.
 
Skills Targeted:
Short vowels (CVC)
Digraphs (sh, ch, th, wh)
Blends (beginning and ending)
Multisyllabic closed syllables
Inflectional endings (-s, -ed, -ing)
Mixed review and functional text
 
What’s Included:
15 decodable fluency passages
Printable progress monitoring pages
WPM timing boxes for repeated reads
Clean, print-friendly layout
Table of contents by skill
Final spiral review passage in real-world text format
 
Perfect For:
RTI & Tier 2/3 intervention
Special education & resource rooms
Structured literacy classrooms
Small groups & tutoring
Homework or weekly fluency folders
 
“My students LOVE these stories—finally something fun they can actually read!”
“Targeted and respectful—no more baby books in fluency folders.”