The Five Pillars of Early Literacy

Literacy is built upon different strands of knowledge. These strands are often referred to as the "Pillars of Early Literacy", as they are the basis for reading. Research conducted by the U.S. National Reading Panel* identified five key areas that are involved in reading skills. The most effective reading programs include all five of the pillars. Parents and guardians can also help their student develop these skills.

1. Phonemic Awareness Word games, rhymes, and tongue twisters can help children identify the individual sounds in words and begin to match the sounds to letters of the alphabet.

2. Phonics Phonics is the key to decoding new words. Breaking words down into sounds and syllables allows young readers to connect words on paper with the words they hear and speak every day.

3. Fluency Fluency is achieved when the reader can concentrate on the meaning of the text, not the individual words. Guided practice helps children learn to read fast enough to keep up with their brains.

4. Vocabulary Kids absorb language like sponges, learning new words every day. Help expand their vocabulary by talking to them, reading aloud, and even singing with them.

5. Comprehension Once a child is reading fluently with a strong vocabulary, they can read for understanding. Support comprehension by asking kids questions about what they are reading.

*In 1997, the United States government formed the National Reading Panel (NRP) with the aim of assessing the effectiveness of different approaches used to teach literacy to young students. In 2000, the NRP finished its research and issued its report "Teaching Children to Read," which was the basis of the "No Child Left Behind" policy, a $5 billion federal reading initiative.

Learn more:

How can parents and guardians help their children succeed in reading?

What are the learning standards for reading (and math) instruction?