Components of Reading

Introduction to the Components

Introduction to the Components

To successfully provide reading instruction, a tutor must understand the different skills that make up reading. Reading is made up of two skills sets Print Skills and Meaning Skills.

Print Skills
Phonemic Awareness Word Analysis Word Recognition Spelling Fluency

Meaning Skills
Word Meaning (listening and expressive) Background Knowledge Silent Reading Comprehension

Key Skills
Print skills and meaning skills are the building blocks of reading comprehension. Five key components illustrate the different patterns of reading strengths and weaknesses among adult learners: Word Recognition Spelling Word Meaning Silent Reading Comprehension Fluency (oral reading rate)
These components are major determinates of reading ability.

Retrieved from http://lincs.ed.gov/readingprofiles/MC_Reading_Components.htm 5/3/12

Explanations
Word Recognition Word recognition is a persons ability to recognize a word and its meaning in isolation. In other words, the person can recognize and comprehend the word without context clues, such as from a list. Spelling Spelling requires transferring speech into writing by identifying correct phonemes, the sounds made by letters and letter combinations. Word Meaning Word meaning, also called vocabulary, is the correct identification of a words meaning.

Fluency Fluency occurs when the reader can read a text out loud with accuracy, speed, and appropriate phrasing.
Silent Reading Comprehension Silent reading comprehension occurs when the reader can successfully implement all of the components of reading together, when reading silently.

Information on the Components

You can learn more about these core components of reading, as well as the other components by visiting http://lincs.ed.gov/readingprofiles/adult_readers.htm. This site also offers strategies to help learners at all levels develop skills in each component.