Literacy refers to reading and writing at a level adequate for communication, or at a level that enables one to successfully comprehend and communicate in print society ( http://en.wikipedia.org/ .) As children improve their ability to read, they eventually read to learn and engage in an on-going process of attaining new knowledge and communicating that knowledge orally and in writing. Literacy is the foundation of success in our society and children must have opportunities to gain that success.

Reading is a complex process that includes five specific reading components. The National Reading Panel has identified five essential components of reading that must be taught systematically in order for children to learn to read. These components include:                  

1. Phonemic awareness
2. Phonics
3. Reading fluency
4. Vocabulary development
5. Reading comprehension strategies.

Good readers must be able to recognize and use individual sounds to create words. They must also be able to understand the relationships between the letters and spoken sounds. An effective reader must develop the ability to read a text accurately and quickly. They must learn the meaning and pronunciation of words, and finally acquire strategies to understand, remember and communicate what is read.          

Reading is an interactive-constructive process in which readers comprehend, interpret, and respond to text according to what they already know. The needs of each student can be met by facilitating a program that includes (a) phonics and phonemic awareness instruction in the primary grades, (b) read alouds through the use of varied literature, (c) instruction in comprehension strategies through think alouds, brief constructed response, and oral discussions, (d) opportunities to do meaningful writing with graphic organizers and (e) instruction to learn phonetic spelling and spelling patterns.

Effective reading instruction must emphasize the five reading components that are identified by the National Reading Panel. They must be systemically taught and integrated into daily instruction. There are numerous strategies that can be facilitated in the home and classroom to make learning to read fun and effective. Students have a variety of learning styles that must be considered when choosing appropriate strategies and activities to use. Within a classroom learning environment, all children have a variety of academic and social strengths and areas of need. As a result, differentiation is an essential component of effective reading instruction at all grade levels.