Final answer:
The correct answer is A) Fluently, as it describes how the student is presently unable to read decodable text smoothly and with ease, which is essential for comprehension. Increasing reading fluency is an integral part of developing strong reading skills.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student can read decodable text, although not fluently; commonly reads word by word. Developing fluency is a critical skill in reading that allows for a smoother and more effective comprehension of text. As students grow in their ability to decode text with learned patterns and sight words, they should be encouraged to practice and increase fluency. This includes strategies like rereading for context if a decoding attempt does not make sense, partner reading, and using peer-assisted tutoring routines. Additionally, it is beneficial to expand theme-related vocabulary and engage in writing activities, such as writing and publishing first storybooks. When students are taught to read effectively for inquiry, learning, critical thinking, and communication in different rhetorical contexts, they start to recognize the relationships between ideas and the patterns of organization within the text, as well as the interplay between verbal and nonverbal elements.