Put Reading First

Phonemic Awareness

• The ability to pick out the individual sounds in each spoken word.
• Important because children must understand that individual sounds can be combined to create spoken words.
• Can be developed in many ways, such as having children identify phonemes, categorize them, blend them to form words, etc.

Phonics

• The ability to understand the relationship between written letters and their spoken sounds.
• Important because children need to understand how written words sound when spoken aloud.
• Can be developed by allowing children opportunities to apply and use their phonics skills.

Fluency

• The ability to accurately read and understand texts.
• Important because it allows students to understand what they read and apply it.
• Can be developed by allowing students ample opportunity to practice, in ways like reading aloud.

Vocabulary

• Knowledge of words to be used in speech or reading/writing.
• Important because readers use words they've heard spoken to understand words they see in texts.
• Can be developed through daily speech and observation, and through direct instruction.

Comprehension

• Understanding of what has been read.
• Important because it allows students to learn more about their world and apply that knowledge.
• Can be developed through application, direct instruction, or cooperative learning.