The Essential Components of Reading

Research indicates that ELLS and native speakers follow similar paths in the development of early literacy skills (Maria Elena Arguelles, Phd.D. Wilson Retreat, March 2007). In order to align reading instruction for the ELLs in the general education classroom, it is important to understand the five essential components of reading instruction and how they relate to the English Language Learner. The five components are: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency, and reading comprehension strategies. More information regarding these components in relation to English Language Learners, can be accessed in this weeks required reading, “English Language Learners and the Five Essential Components of Reading Instruction” by Beth Antunez (2002). You may stop here and read it at this time or continue with the course content and return to the article later.

This article is reprinted with permission from Reading Rockets and Colorin Colorado (Reading Rockets’s bilingual sister site for parents, families and educators of English language learners).

In next week’s content, we will address Oral Language, which is considered the sixth component of reading.