Which method can effectively assess reading fluency?

Assessing reading fluency requires a method that measures both the speed and accuracy with which a student can read text. Timed readings involve having the student read a passage aloud within a set timeframe, allowing educators to evaluate how many words they correctly read per minute. This approach not only quantifies the speed of reading but also provides insight into the reader's accuracy and expression, which are critical components of fluency.

Other methods, such as oral discussions about stories, focus more on comprehension rather than on the mechanics of reading itself. Listening to audiobooks without follow-up does not engage the reader in the act of reading and therefore does not provide a measure of their fluency skills. Group reading, while beneficial for fostering collaborative skills, does not allow for individual performance evaluation necessary to gauge each student's reading fluency effectively. Thus, timed readings are the most direct method to assess reading fluency by providing clear data on a student's reading performance.