What instructional strategy benefits students in developing fluency with reading?

The choice of repeated oral reading with feedback as the instructional strategy that benefits students in developing fluency with reading is rooted in how fluency is defined and what is needed to improve it. Fluency involves the ability to read smoothly and accurately, with an appropriate speed and expression.

When students engage in repeated oral reading, they have the opportunity to practice reading the same text multiple times. This repetition allows them to become more familiar with the words and rhythm of the text, which helps to enhance their automaticity—the ability to recognize words quickly and effortlessly. Additionally, receiving feedback during these reading sessions can guide students in correcting mispronunciations, improving their phrasing and intonation, and ultimately increasing their confidence and proficiency in reading aloud. This process helps reinforce learning and contributes significantly to overall reading fluency.

Independent silent reading, while valuable for building comprehension and self-paced reading practices, does not provide the immediate feedback or interactive element necessary for tackling fluency specifically. Similarly, audio-visual presentations and collaborative group work have their advantages in learning (such as improving engagement or promoting discussion) but do not directly target the specific skills required to develop reading fluency as effectively as repeated oral reading with feedback does.