What is likely to benefit students’ oral reading fluency when addressing their phonics knowledge?

Improving reading accuracy is critical to benefiting students' oral reading fluency, especially in relation to their phonics knowledge. When students focus on accurate decoding of words, they develop their ability to recognize and pronounce words correctly. This foundational skill is essential for fluency, as it allows students to read texts more smoothly without frequent interruptions to decode unfamiliar words.

When students have a strong grasp of phonics, they can break down words into their constituent sounds, improving their ability to recognize words as they encounter them in texts. This increased accuracy leads to greater confidence in their reading abilities, enabling them to engage with texts more effectively. As their reading becomes more precise, they can focus on the meaning of the text rather than getting bogged down by individual words, which significantly enhances their overall fluency.

By honing in on accuracy, students are also more likely to develop automaticity with familiar words, further contributing to their overall reading fluency as they transition from decoding to comprehension more seamlessly.