The youngest readers begin recognizing phonics as they become aware of them. As children learn the individual sounds in words, it will give them the basis of an ability to read. Most children need a strong ability to discern the beginning, middle and ending sounds in words. Simple rhymes and counting syllables help children learn these basic skills. Some students need more focused, hands-on activities that engage all their senses. One example is songs with movement, which help with memorization.
Vocabulary, or understanding the meaning of words, helps students with overall comprehension of passages. Most reading programs introduce new vocabulary words prior to having children read a new selection so the students have a context for vocabulary. Aspects of vocabulary include definitions, pronunciations, and ways to use the word in a sentence.
Reading fluency refers to the ability to smoothly and correctly read a passage. As students read a word accurately each time, whether it's a sight word or one they sound out phonetically, they build on this skill. This skill takes time and practice to develop. As students gain confidence at one level of reading fluency, they can progress to the next level.
As children comprehend what they read, they not only understand it, but can explain what it means to others as well. Students need a strong vocabulary to be able to do this effectively. Questioning students to assess their overall understanding of main ideas, order of events and their ability to draw inferences helps with comprehension skills as well.
Guided reading, sometimes known as group reading, puts children in small groups according to ability and need. This strategy helps students as they learn and apply different reading strategies. Although mostly used in primary grades, older children can benefit from this activity as well. They can learn new skills, such as research, with this technique. Guided reading usually focuses on comprehension and applying context clues for understanding of the passage.