Define "automaticity" in reading.

Automaticity in reading refers to the ability to read words quickly and accurately without the need for conscious effort. When a reader achieves automaticity, they can recognize words instantly and fluidly, which allows them to focus on understanding the meaning of the text rather than getting bogged down by decoding or word recognition. This skill is crucial for proficient reading as it enables the reader to process information more efficiently and helps facilitate comprehension.

By developing automaticity, readers can also allocate cognitive resources towards other important aspects of reading, such as analyzing text structure, making inferences, and connecting ideas. This ultimately leads to a richer and more enjoyable reading experience. Other skills mentioned, such as summarizing or understanding complex texts, are important in their own right, but they are not the defining characteristic of automaticity, which is specifically about the speed and accuracy of word recognition.