What type of reading activity helps less developed readers improve their prosody and rate?

Imitating expressions and pacing of skilled readers is an effective way to help less developed readers improve their prosody and rate. This technique allows students to hear the natural flow, intonation, and rhythm of fluent reading. By mimicking these elements, students can better understand how to convey meaning through their reading. This active engagement with the text requires them to pay close attention to how seasoned readers articulate words and phrases, helping them to develop a more expressive and fluent reading style.

In contrast, reading silently at their own pace may not provide the necessary modeling and immediate feedback that imitating offers. Reading aloud without prior practice can lead to anxiety and hinder the development of prosody because the reader may focus more on decoding words than on expression. Focusing solely on phonetic sounds does not address the importance of rhythm and emotional expression in reading, which are crucial aspects of prosody. Thus, imitating skilled readers combines auditory learning and practice in a way that effectively enhances both the rate and expressiveness of emerging readers.