How should fluency instruction ideally begin for students?

Fluency instruction ideally begins with teachers modeling appropriate reading inflection because this approach sets a strong foundation for students' understanding of how to convey meaning through their reading. By demonstrating proper expression, intonation, and pacing, teachers provide students with a clear example to emulate. This modeling helps students recognize the nuances of fluent reading, which includes aspects such as rhythm and emotion that contribute to comprehension and engagement with the text.

When students hear fluent reading, they can better grasp how to articulate words and phrases in a way that reflects the underlying narrative and emotional content, fostering their own development as fluent readers. Understanding this modeling phase is crucial for educators because it equips them to guide students in achieving fluency through practice, ultimately enhancing their reading skills and confidence. Other methods listed, while beneficial at various stages of reading development, typically benefit from initial modeling to ensure students have a strong example to aspire to.