ELA Grades 3-5
Phonemic Awareness
Phonemic awareness is the ability to identify and manipulate individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken words. We know that a student's skill in phonological awareness is a good predictor of later reading success or difficulty.
Read more about phonological and phonemic awareness:
Reading Rockets: Phonological and Phonemic Awareness
Phonemic Awareness Resources:
The Progression of Phonological Awareness in 60 seconds
Phonics and Decoding
Decoding is the ability to apply your knowledge of letter-sound relationships, including knowledge of letter patterns, to correctly pronounce written words. Understanding these relationships gives children the ability to recognize familiar words quickly and to figure out words they haven't seen before. Although children may sometimes figure out some of these relationships on their own, most children benefit from explicit instruction in this area. Phonics is one approach to reading instruction that teaches students the principles of letter-sound relationships, how to sound out words, and exceptions to the principles.
Read more about phonics and decoding:
Reading Rockets: Phonics and Decoding
Phonics/Decoding Resources:
Heart Word Magic: Help students learn to read and spell high-frequency words
Fundations Letter Sound Practice
Unite for Literacy: Read books
Fluency
Fluency is defined as the ability to read with speed, accuracy, and proper expression. In order to understand what they read, children must be able to read fluently whether they are reading aloud or silently. When reading aloud, fluent readers read in phrases and add intonation appropriately. Their reading is smooth and has expression.
Read more about reading fluency:
Reading Rockets: Reading Fluency
Fluency Resources:
Unite for Literacy: Read books
5 Ways to Improve Reading Fluency at Home
Reading Poetry Improves Fluency
Comprehension
Comprehension is the understanding and interpretation of what is read. To be able to accurately understand written material, children need to be able to (1) decode what they read; (2) make connections between what they read and what they already know; and (3) think deeply about what they have read.
Read more about reading comprehension:
Reading Rockets: Reading Comprehension
Comprehension Resources: