Instructional methods focused on connected text can be grouped into three main categories: independent silent reading, assisted reading, and repeated oral reading. In actual practice, these categories often overlap. A fourth category focuses on integrated fluency instruction.
Teacher-assisted reading: expressive reading modeled through reading aloud. Peer-assisted reading: paired reading with feedback from more fluent reader. Audio-assisted reading: expressive reading modeled by computer, CD or audio tape.
Number of readings: Students either read and reread a text until a level of fluency is met or they read text a set number of times (three to four benefit most). Instructional groupings: Include individually with adult, pairs, small groups, or a whole class. Purpose for reading: Students devote each reading to a different purpose ( 1 st read: identify character motivation, 2 nd read identify setting, etc.).
See Research-Based Methods of Repeated Oral Reading chart on page 365 for descriptions of each.
Passages should vary in genre with short stories, magazine and newspaper articles, poetry etc.