Key Elements Every Reading Program Should Include
Over decades of study—including research sponsored by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) with data from more than 42,000 readers—scientists have identified the core skills necessary for learning to read. Both the National Reading Panel (2000) and the National Research Council (1998) confirmed that strong readers develop through instruction that covers five essential components, often called the building blocks of reading.
The Five Essential Components of Reading
1. Phonemic Awareness
The ability to hear and work with the individual sounds (phonemes) in words.
Strong predictor of early reading success, especially in kindergarten and first grade.
Children lacking this skill often struggle with word recognition and may never catch up without early intervention.
2. Phonics
Understanding the connection between letters (graphemes) and sounds (phonemes).
Systematic and explicit phonics instruction is proven to boost word recognition, decoding, and comprehension.
Works best when introduced early but remains effective for older struggling readers.
3. Fluency
The ability to read text smoothly, accurately, and with expression.
Strongly linked to comprehension, as fluent readers can focus on meaning rather than decoding each word.
Best developed through guided oral reading, repeated practice, and feedback.
4. Vocabulary
A robust vocabulary underpins comprehension and communication.
Instruction should combine direct teaching, repeated exposure, and learning in context.
Academic vocabulary—the language of school subjects—is especially important for long-term success.
5. Comprehension
The ultimate goal of reading: making sense of text.
Requires strong decoding, fluency, vocabulary, and background knowledge.
Research supports teaching specific strategies such as summarizing, questioning, using graphic organizers, and practicing close reading.
Why This Matters for Educators
The research is clear: no single skill is enough on its own. Students need all five components working together in a structured, balanced program. When taught explicitly and systematically, these building blocks enable all students—including those with dyslexia or other reading difficulties—to become confident, capable readers.
How the Slingerland Approach Goes Beyond the Five Components
While the five pillars of reading—phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension—are well established by research, the Slingerland Approach adds a critical dimension that many programs overlook: handwriting.
Why Handwriting Matters
Handwriting isn’t just about neat penmanship. Research in neuroscience and literacy shows that the physical act of writing by hand strengthens the brain’s ability to:
Anchor letter-sound connections (orthographic mapping).
Support spelling development by reinforcing sound-symbol relationships.
Improve reading fluency and comprehension, because forming letters automatically frees cognitive energy for higher-level thinking.
Boost memory and learning, as multisensory practice (seeing, saying, hearing, and writing) wires the language system more effectively than typing or oral practice alone.
Slingerland’s Unique Contribution
Unlike many reading programs that focus only on decoding and comprehension, Slingerland integrates oral language, reading, spelling, and handwriting into every lesson. Students don’t just learn to recognize letters—they write them, speak them, and connect them to sounds and words in context.
This emphasis on handwriting provides the kinesthetic and motor-memory support struggling readers often need to master language. It’s a systematic, multisensory way of teaching that ensures skills don’t just stay abstract—they become automatic, functional, and lasting.
