How can a teacher determine if a text is appropriate for a student's independent reading?

Determining if a text is appropriate for a student's independent reading involves assessing their comprehension level through a read-aloud method. When a student reads aloud, a teacher can observe several key factors, including the student's fluency, accuracy, and ability to understand and interpret the material. This direct interaction allows the teacher to ask questions and gauge the student's grasp of the content, which provides insight into whether the text challenges the student adequately without being overwhelming.

While considering other factors like a student’s opinion or the length of the text may provide some indications, they do not provide as concrete an understanding of comprehension as the read-aloud method does. Additionally, having the student read silently and reflect later lacks the immediacy of feedback that can guide instructional decisions effectively. Therefore, incorporating comprehension checks while a student reads aloud gives a more comprehensive perspective on the suitability of the text for independent reading.