How does "read aloud" support student learning?

The practice of "read aloud" plays a significant role in supporting student learning primarily by exposing students to various genres and modeling reading fluency. When teachers read aloud, students are introduced to a wide range of texts that they may not encounter on their own. This exposure broadens their literary experience, helping them to appreciate different styles, themes, and perspectives within literature.

Additionally, read-aloud sessions allow teachers to demonstrate fluent reading, showcasing proper pacing, intonation, and expression. This modeling is crucial for students as they develop their own reading skills. Observing fluent reading helps to build their understanding of how to convey meaning through prosody, which is essential for effective comprehension and engagement with the text.

In contrast, independent assessments and quizzes focus on evaluating knowledge rather than fostering understanding through exposure. Phonics instruction emphasizes specific decoding skills, but does not encompass the broader literary experience and fluency modeling that read-aloud practices provide. Thus, the correct answer reflects the multifaceted benefits of reading aloud in education.