| Learning to read is not a natural process that | | | | Reading Facts |
| spontaneously happens on its own. At one time, | | | | Here are some hard-to-believe facts that put the |
| reading was thought to develop naturally when a | | | | importance of a good reading program, like |
| child was ready, or "mature" enough. Today, it is | | | | ClicknRead, in perspective. |
| understood this is incorrect. Many parents think | | | | • Reading difficulty is a problem that extends |
| that as long as their child is bright, or they read to | | | | across class - wealth is no guarantee of reading |
| them a lot, they will learn how to read without a | | | | success. |
| problem - but thre is no evidence to support this. | | | | • Learning to read is a crucial step in children's |
| To learn to read, children must grasp certain skills | | | | education because those who do poorly in early |
| necessary for reading. | | | | grades are unlikely to catch up with their |
| For all but a few children, learning to read requires | | | | classmates. |
| explicit instruction. An effective reading program | | | | • Estimates indicate that at least two out of |
| needs to include the major components of | | | | five children are poor readers. |
| reading instruction: | | | | • If a child is a poor reader at the end of first |
| - phonemic (or sound unit) awareness | | | | grade, there is an almost 90% probability that the |
| - phonics | | | | child will be a poor reader at the end of fourth |
| - sounding out | | | | grade. |
| - blending | | | | • About 60% of children have difficulty in |
| The 4 to 6 year old age range is the window for | | | | learning to read. |
| teaching reading. Beyond the age of 6 or 7, | | | | • For most poor readers, early intervention |
| teaching a child to read is about catching up. Not | | | | programs that combine instruction in phonemic |
| enough emphasis can be placed on how important | | | | awareness, phonics, spelling, reading fluency, and |
| it is for a child to develop reading fluency. If they | | | | reading comprehension can increase reading skills |
| don't read fluently, the chances for success, in | | | | to average reading levels. |
| terms of job skills, financial stability, and academic | | | | • Early phonics instruction improves reading |
| achievement are greatly reduced. | | | | and spelling abilities for all children. |