What best supports independent reading development?

• A. Limiting texts to one genre
• B. Access to a range of texts at students' instructional and independent levels
• C. Requiring teacher-selected texts only
• D. Limiting reading to phonics drills

Answer: (B)

Providing a range of texts at students' instructional and independent levels supports independent reading development because it gives learners just-right challenges that they can tackle with growing independence. When kids can choose from various genres and topics, and the texts sit at an instructional level (a bit challenging but doable with effort and occasional support) and an independent level (easy enough to read with little help), they practice decoding, build vocabulary, and deepen comprehension in authentic reading contexts. This variety keeps reading engaging, helps develop stamina for longer reading sessions, and fosters a sense of ownership and confidence as readers. Limiting texts to a single genre, relying only on teacher-selected titles, or focusing solely on phonics drills narrows experiences and undermines the goal of building genuine, self-directed reading habits that apply across many kinds of texts.