To address fluency difficulties faced by students in a reading group, the teacher decides to implement students theater lessons using a text. Each student can decode proficiently. Which of the following instructional steps will best support the students' improvement of reading fluency?

• A. Modeling reading of the script and asking students to read the text independently and orally before choosing their character parts
• B. Having students memorize lines and perform without rehearsal
• C. Assigning roles and reading the script aloud only in unison
• D. Focusing on silent reading of the script without performance

Answer: (A)

Fluency grows when students hear fluent reading modeled and then get chances to practice reading aloud with expression. Modeling the script shows how punctuation guides phrasing, where to pause, and how to vary voice to convey meaning. Having each student read the text aloud on their own first—before choosing character parts—lets them apply what they’ve heard, practice decoding in a meaningful context, and monitor their own pace and expression. This sequence builds automaticity in decoding while developing prosody, which is essential for fluent reading, and it also boosts motivation and confidence since students gain ownership by selecting roles after practicing.

Memorizing lines and performing without rehearsal skips the essential practice with expression and timing; reading only in unison doesn’t give individuals the chance to develop their own fluency patterns; focusing on silent reading eliminates the oral practice that builds speed, accuracy, and expression.