What are the essential components of reading instruction?

Scientifically based reading research has identified five essential components of effective reading instruction. Explicit and systematic instruction must be provided in these five areas:

1. Phonemic Awareness- The ability to hear, identify and manipulate the individual sounds-phonemes-in spoken words. Phonemic awareness is the understanding that the sounds of spoken language work together to make words.

2. Phonics- The understanding that there is a predictable relationship between phonemes -the sounds of spoken language- and graphemes -the letters and spellings that represent those sounds in written language. Readers use these relationships to recognize familiar words accurately and automatically and to decode unfamiliar words.

3. Vocabulary Development- Development of stored information about the meanings and pronunciation of words necessary for communication.

• Listening vocabulary - the words needed to understand what is heard
• Speaking vocabulary - the words used when speaking
• Reading vocabulary - the words needed to understand what is read
• Writing vocabulary - the words used in writing

4. Reading fluency, including oral reading skills- Fluency is the ability to read text accurately and quickly. It provides a bridge between word recognition and comprehension. Fluent readers recognize words and comprehend at the same time.

5. Reading comprehension strategies- Strategies for understanding, remembering, and communicating with others about what has been read. Comprehension strategies are sets of steps that purposeful, active readers use to make sense of text.