| The Reading
Skills Pyramid Skills Pyramid
The Key Reading Skills & The Steps in Acquiring Them
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Learning to read is an exciting time for children and their families. While thrilled by their children's emerging literacy and reading skills, many parents are surprised to learn that reading is not automatic and that, regardless of family background, children require support in learning to read and developing strong reading skills. Most adults forget that acquiring reading skills required skilled instruction. |
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A language-rich environment
forms a solid foundation on which reading
skills including decoding, fluency,
vocabulary, and comprehension are based.
Mastery of decoding comprises understanding
print concepts, phonemic awareness and
phonics and is usually attained by the
end of second grade. Some skills, such
as vocabulary development, will grow
as long as children are challenged by
involvement in a rich language environment
and by tackling increasingly complicated
texts.
Research shows that children who develop
phonemic awarenessand letter-sound knowledge
early on are more likely to be strong,
successful readers. Children build these
skills by reading aloud, practicing
nursery rhymes, and playing letter and
word games. Tutoring or structured computer
programs can also effectively reinforce
these skills. Based on an understanding
of phonemic (or phonological) awareness
and basic print concepts, children are
ready to learn phonics and to start
decoding words.
The Reading Skills Pyramid visually
depicts the patterns of concept acquisition
that children follow in becoming successful
readers up through third grade. We recommend
a high level of parent involvement in
this process by providing high quality
educational materials, establishing
a pattern of daily reading, creating
a rich language environment, and discussing
your child's progress with teachers
and following up on their recommendations.
While most children follow the same
sequence of acquiring literacy skills,
they do so at their own pace. All children
are different: if you have questions
or concerns about your child's progress
in reading, contact his or her teacher.
The "What
Works?" Report found that the five key areas in learning to read are
phonemic
awareness, phonics,
comprehension,
vocabulary, and fluency.
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