What strategy can help students transition away from word-by-word reading during a daily poetry activity?

The strategy of adding phrase-cues to poetry booklets and modeling phrase reading is an effective way to help students transition away from word-by-word reading. This approach encourages students to read phrases as units rather than individual words, which promotes fluency and comprehension. By using phrase-cues, students can better grasp the rhythm and flow of the poetry, allowing them to experience the language as it is intended—smoothly and expressively.

Modeling phrase reading demonstrates how fluent readers naturally chunk words into meaningful phrases, reinforcing this skill through practical examples. As students practice with these cues, they become more confident in their reading abilities and better able to understand the emotional and thematic nuances of the poetry. This strategy directly addresses the need for students to enhance their reading fluency, making it a targeted and effective instructional method.