Five+Components+of+Reading

In order for children to become highly effective readers, it is essential that all five components of the reading process are explicitly taught, in a focussed and comprehensive manner. The five components of reading are: Ø ** Phonemic Awareness ** – Attentiveness to the sounds of spoken language Ø ** Phonics ** – Decoding unfamiliar words using knowledge of the alphabet principle. Ø ** Fluency ** – Grade appropriate oral reading with appropriate speed, accuracy and expression. Ø ** Vocabulary Development ** - Knowledge of word meanings to facilitate effective spoken and written language communication. Ø ** Text Comprehension ** – Use of a variety of comprehension strategies to monitor comprehension to construct meaning from print. Effective Phonemic Awareness is "the ability to notice, think about, and work with reading the individual sound in spoken words" (Put Reading First, 2001, p.2). These individual sounds are called phonemes. Evidence suggests that phonemic awareness instruction draws attention to the sounds that comprise words enhance the beginning reader's ability to decode, comprehend, and spell. The more general term, phonological awareness, refers to the ability to distinguish sounds in the everyday environment. Phonological awareness involves working with the sounds of language at the word, syllable, and phoneme level.
 * __ Five key components of reading: __**
 * Phonemic Awareness **

Effective Phonics instruction teaches students the alphabetic principle relating reading sounds (phonemes) to letters (graphemes). Learning to read unfamiliar but decodable English words requires the use of phonics. The goal of phonics instruction is to teach students that there are "systematic and predictable relationships between written letters and spoken sounds" (Put Reading First, p.12). Learning the common letter-sound correspondences in English and techniques for blending the sounds to read regularly spelled words contributes to the ease with which beginners automatically recognize isolated written words as well as words within connected text. At the center of the recommendations regarding the teaching of phonics is the importance of systematic and explicit phonics instruction (Put Reading First, pp. 13-15).  Effective Fluency is the ability to read a text accurately and quickly (Put Reading First, p. 22). Fluency is important because it provides a bridge between word recognition and comprehension. When fluent readers read silently, they recognize words automatically and are able to concentrate on the meaning of the text. Less fluent readers must focus their attention on decoding individual words and therefore have little attention left for understanding text. Reading fluency can be assessed using the following chart of reading rates:  Effective Vocabulary knowledge has long been recognized in the development of reading skills (National Panel Report, p.13). There are two types of vocabulary, oral and print. · Oral vocabulary refers to words that are used in speaking or recognized when listening. · Print vocabulary is synonymous with reading vocabulary and refers to words we recognize and use in print. Vocabulary is an important part of learning to read. Beginning readers use the words they have heard to make sense of the words they see in print and will have a more difficult time reading words that are not part of their oral vocabulary. Vocabulary is also part of reading comprehension. As children learn to read more advanced texts, they must learn the meaning of new words that are not part of their oral vocabulary (Put Reading First, p.34). Vocabulary can be developed in two ways, indirectly and directly. · Indirectly refers to when students engage daily in oral language, listen to adults read to them, and read extensively on their own. · Directly refers to when students are explicitly taught both individual words and word learning strategies.
 * Phonics **
 * Fluency **
 * Vocabulary Development **

Effective Text Comprehension is "intentional thinking during which meaning is constructed through interactions between text and reader". Research suggests that text comprehension is enhanced when readers actively relate the ideas represented in print to their own knowledge and experiences and construct mental pictures in their memory. The National Reading Panel recommends that beginning reading instruction include the following strategies.
 * Text Comprehension **