Phonemic awareness is an understanding that words and letters are made up of different sounds. A child should be able to comprehend separate sounds and manipulate them to speak them correctly. An understanding of phonemic awareness includes the ability to rhyme, counting syllables in words and the ability to sound out the different letters in a word.
Phonics is the relationship between letters and sounds. An understanding of phonics will teach a child each different sound associated with a letter and the sounds made by combining letters. Phonics are the building blocks of reading comprehension and should be taught early on.
Fluency is the ability to read a text accurately and quickly. As students grow and their reading level increases, so should their fluency level. A fluent reader can concentrate on the meaning of words grouped together without having to focus on each individual word. Fluency levels are directly related to the amount of reading practiced. If children are having trouble with fluency, practice reading aloud more often.
Vocabulary is knowing and comprehending the different meanings of words. First graders will primarily focus on oral vocabulary, reading the words aloud with correct pronunciation and understanding their meaning. Encourage children to build their vocabulary by explaining the words they hear in everyday life and giving the definitions of words they do not know or understand.
Reading comprehension is the umbrella term for understanding, remembering and communicating what has been read. Reading comprehension relates to reading level; at a first-grade level, stories and books should be fun, engaging and easy to understand. Expand on children's reading comprehension by asking them to explain what happened in the book or story.