What type of texts should be read aloud to develop fluency skills in ninth graders?

Reading aloud to develop fluency skills in ninth graders is best supported by predictable and rhyming texts. These types of texts often feature rhythmic patterns and repetitive structures, which help students recognize language patterns and improve their prosody and expression. They create an engaging experience that encourages students to practice reading with confidence and flow. Additionally, the predictability of these texts allows students to anticipate language and phrases, further enhancing their reading rhythm and facilitating smoother oral reading abilities.

While complex academic texts or strictly informational texts may present rich vocabulary and sophisticated sentence structures, they can be less suitable for fluency practice due to their potentially demanding nature and the higher level of comprehension and cognitive load required. Dialogue-heavy scripts can also be beneficial for practicing fluency as they encourage expressive reading through character voices and interactions. However, they may lack the rhythmic and predictable qualities that specifically promote fluency development in a more accessible way for ninth graders.