Which strategy is likely to improve a student’s fluency in reading?

Practicing repeated readings of familiar texts is a highly effective strategy for improving a student’s fluency in reading. This approach allows students to become more comfortable with the text, enabling them to focus on expression, pace, and accuracy rather than decoding each word. Familiar texts naturally enhance fluency because students can read them with increased confidence, leading to smoother and more expressive reading. Repeated reading also encourages practice, which is key for building fluency; as students read the same text multiple times, they become more familiar with the vocabulary and sentence structures, which further contributes to overall fluency.

Engaging in phonics drills daily focuses on individual sounds and their meanings but may not necessarily translate to improved reading fluency, as fluency involves reading connected text smoothly and with expression. While silent reading comprehension is important for understanding content, without actively practicing fluency strategies like repeated readings, a student might struggle with speed and expression when reading aloud. Writing summaries, while a valuable activity for comprehension and critical thinking, does not directly foster the skills needed for reading fluency, which are tied more closely to repeated exposure and practice with reading itself.