What might a teacher do to assist a third-grade student who struggles with text comprehension due to decoding focus?

Focusing on fluency skills is crucial for students who struggle with text comprehension primarily due to decoding issues. When a student has to concentrate heavily on decoding individual words, they may find it challenging to understand the overall meaning of the text. By improving fluency, the student can read more smoothly and quickly, allowing them to shift their focus from simply decoding words to comprehending the text.

Fluency involves the ability to read with appropriate speed, accuracy, and expression, which is essential for effective reading comprehension. When students become more fluent readers, they can better integrate their understanding of the text as they can process written words without cognitive overload. This can lead to enhanced engagement with the content and improved comprehension skills.

In contrast, increasing the difficulty of reading assignments could overwhelm the student and further complicate their understanding, whereas introducing more vocabulary exercises might not address the specific challenge of decoding. Limiting reading homework might reduce the practice opportunities necessary for developing fluency and comprehension. Therefore, focusing specifically on fluency skills is a targeted and effective strategy for assisting a student struggling with comprehension due to decoding difficulties.