A student reads a passage slowly, word by word, without expression. What aspect of fluency should the teacher focus on improving?

The aspect of fluency that should be focused on improving in this situation is prosody. Prosody refers to the rhythm, stress, and intonation patterns in spoken language. When a student reads slowly, word by word, without expression, it indicates that they may not yet be able to read with the natural flow that characterizes fluent reading. Improving prosody involves encouraging the student to read with appropriate expression, which can enhance comprehension and engagement with the text. This includes varying tone, emphasizing important words, and using pauses effectively, all of which contribute to a more dynamic and expressive reading experience.

Emphasizing prosody can lead to a greater understanding of the text's meaning and improve overall reading fluency, allowing the student to become more confident and expressive in their reading.