Which practice most directly increases reading automaticity?

Which practice most directly increases reading automaticity?

• A. Repeated reading.
• B. Skimming passages.
• C. Memorizing passages.
• D. Skipping words to speed up.

Answer: (A)

Automaticity in reading means recognizing words quickly and effortlessly, so you can focus on meaning rather than decoding each word. Repeated reading builds this by giving your brain multiple chances to see and process the same words in the same context, strengthening the connections for common words and phrases. With each reading, decoding becomes faster and less deliberate, helping the whole sentence flow and improving prosody and comprehension. Other practices don’t target this quick, accurate word recognition as directly. Skimming focuses on getting the gist rather than precise, fast word-by-word reading. Memorizing a passage may help you recall that specific text, but it doesn’t generalize to new text or improve automatic recognition of unfamiliar words. Skipping words to speed up harms accuracy and cutting back on real decoding practice, which actually undermines automaticity.

Automaticity in reading means recognizing words quickly and effortlessly, so you can focus on meaning rather than decoding each word. Repeated reading builds this by giving your brain multiple chances to see and process the same words in the same context, strengthening the connections for common words and phrases. With each reading, decoding becomes faster and less deliberate, helping the whole sentence flow and improving prosody and comprehension.

Other practices don’t target this quick, accurate word recognition as directly. Skimming focuses on getting the gist rather than precise, fast word-by-word reading. Memorizing a passage may help you recall that specific text, but it doesn’t generalize to new text or improve automatic recognition of unfamiliar words. Skipping words to speed up harms accuracy and cutting back on real decoding practice, which actually undermines automaticity.