What is an effective strategy for improving reading fluency?

Repetitive reading of texts is a highly effective strategy for improving reading fluency because it allows students to practice reading the same material multiple times, which helps to build speed and accuracy. This practice boosts familiarity with the vocabulary, sentence structures, and overall flow of the text, leading to a smoother and more effortless reading experience over time. As students become more comfortable with the text, their confidence in their reading abilities also tends to increase, which can further enhance their fluency.

Other methods might have their benefits, but they do not directly focus on the mechanical aspects of fluency in the same way that repetitive reading does. For instance, reading in silence can be beneficial for comprehension, but it does not provide the same opportunity for practicing and refining reading skills. Listening to music while reading could create a relaxing environment, but it may also create distractions that hinder focus on the text. Writing summaries of texts is a great way to ensure understanding but does not contribute directly to improving the actual reading fluency skills.