What constitutes an Oral Reading Fluency (ORF) assessment?

An Oral Reading Fluency (ORF) assessment is characterized by a one-minute reading of grade-level text aloud. This type of assessment focuses on measuring how well a student can read text fluently, which includes evaluating their speed, accuracy, and expression while reading. Fluency is critical for comprehension, and oral reading assessments provide insight into a student's reading abilities in a direct and practical manner.

In contrast, a written test of a student’s vocabulary primarily assesses the understanding of words and their meanings, but does not directly measure reading fluency. A group activity assessing peer reading may involve interaction and collaborative learning, but it does not specifically measure individual fluency rates. Similarly, a silent reading evaluation of comprehension focuses on understanding the text rather than how fluently a student can read it aloud. Thus, the one-minute reading aloud is the most appropriate method for evaluating Oral Reading Fluency.