Which fluency instruction strategy is most appropriate for beginning readers?

• A. The teacher provides explicit instruction on new or difficult words and has students practice these words in isolation before reading the text
• B. The teacher models reading with expression repeatedly through read-aloud opportunities
• C. The teacher has students read silently without guidance
• D. The teacher assigns long passages with no modeling

Answer: (A)

Beginning readers need building blocks for fluent reading, especially word recognition and decoding. Providing explicit instruction on new or difficult words and giving students practice with those words in isolation helps them pronounce and understand them quickly. When this foundation is secure, students can recognize words automatically during reading, which reduces hesitations and frees cognitive resources for comprehending text and using expressive reading. Modeling fluent reading is valuable, but without first equipping beginners with targeted word knowledge and practice, unfamiliar words can disrupt fluency as they read. Silent reading without guidance and long, unmodeled passages don’t give the necessary scaffolds for developing early fluency.