Elements of Skilled Reading Performance

Phonics Check:
The Reading Teacher's Book of Lists
Consonant Diagraph= two consonants make one sound
Consonant Blend= two different sounds
Silent Consonants=consonants that do not make sounds.

Recap:
Why do we assess reading? Depends on who you are, different stake holders have different ideas
What do we assess?
When do we assess? this depends on who you are and what you believe reading is.

Graphic organizer on page 29
Context Learner
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Skilled Reading Performance

Four Elements of Skilled Reading Performance

1. Comprehension= ability to construct meaning form text, most important element! all other elements are a means to the end.
2. Vocabulary Development= knowledge of the meaning of workds and the ability to learn the meanings of new words.
3. Word Identification (and spelling) = recognize familiar words quickly (site words), and decode unfamiliar words rapidly enough that meaning is not interrupted.

a. Site word recognition
b. high potency words (McDonald, name, mom, dad)= words that are important for kids
c. high frequency function words (the)= not easy but everywhere
d. content words= vocabulary depending on their situation.

e. Word analysis strategies (don't know the word on site, what does the reader do?)

1. Contextual analysis (using context to determine word meaning)
2. Morphemic analysis (breaking word apart to meaningful chunks
3. Phonic analysis ("sound it out", connecting graphemes -letter sounds, or letter combinations)

4. Fluency
a. Rate = speed (words/min)
b. Fluency = speed, accuracy, proper expression, maintenance of comprehension
c. Strong relationship between fluency and comprehension
d. High levels of fluency related to ample opportunities to practice reading.

Contextual Factors
• Settings—classroom and home setting
• Instructional practices
• Instructional Resources
• Assessment Practices

Learner Factors
• Prior Content Knowledge
• Knowledge about reading
• Attitudes and motivation
• Correlates of skilled performance
• Social and emotional development

Videos on Reading
www.learner.org/resources/series162.html