1.2 Elements of reading; word recognition and reading comprehension.

Learning to read is one of the most important skills children can learn. When
your child takes their first steps in their learning to read journey, it’s important
to keep in mind the 2 essential components of reading that every child needs in
order to grow into a confident and fluent reader.
There are many fun, play-based activities you can do at school to build your
child’s skills in these 2 core areas of reading.

Word recognition
Word recognition, according to Literacy Information and Communication System (LINCS) is
"the ability of a reader to recognize written words correctly and virtually effortlessly". It is
sometimes referred to as "isolated word recognition" because it involves a reader's ability to
recognize words individually from a list without needing similar words for contextual help.
LINCS continues to say that "rapid and effortless word recognition is the main component of
fluent reading" and explains that these skills can be improved by "practic[ing] with flashcards,
lists, and word grids".
In her 1990 review of the science of learning to read, psychologist Marilyn Jager Adams wrote
that "the single immutable and nonoptional fact about skilful reading is that it involves relatively
complete processing of the individual letters of print."[2] The article "The Science of Word
Recognition" says that "evidence from the last 20 years of work in cognitive
psychology indicates that we use the letters within a word to recognize a word". Over time, other
theories have been put forth proposing the mechanisms by which words are recognized in
isolation, yet with both speed and accuracy.[3] These theories focus more on the significance of
individual letters and letter-shape recognition (ex. serial letter recognition and parallel letter
recognition). Other factors such as saccadic eye movements and the linear relationship between
letters also affect the way we recognize words.[4]
There are different ways to develop these skills. For example, creating flash cards for words that
appear at a high frequency is considered a tool for overcoming .
dyslexiaIt has been argued that prosody, the patterns of rhythm and sound used in poetry, can
improve word recognition.
Word recognition is a manner of reading based upon the immediate perception of what word a
familiar grouping of letters represents. This process exists in opposition to phonetics and word
analysis, as a different method of recognizing and verbalizing visual language (i.e. reading.
Word recognition functions primarily on automaticity. On the other hand, phonetics and word
analysis rely on the basis of cognitively applying learned grammatical rules for the blending of
letters, sounds, graphemes, and morphemes.
Word recognition is measured as a matter of speed, such that a word with a high level of
recognition is read faster than a novel one.
This manner of testing suggests that comprehension of the meaning of the words being read is
not required, but rather the ability to recognize them in a way that allows proper pronunciation.
Therefore, context is unimportant, and word recognition is often assessed with words presented
in isolation in formats such as flash cards.
Nevertheless, ease in word recognition, as in fluency, enables proficiency that fosters
comprehension of the text being read.
The intrinsic value of word recognition may be obvious due to the prevalence of literacy in
modern society. However, its role may be less conspicuous in the areas of literacy learning,
second-language learning, and developmental delays in reading. As word recognition is better
understood, more reliable and efficient forms of teaching may be discovered for both children
and adult learners of first-language literacy. Such information may also benefit second-language
learners with acquisition of novel words and letter characters.
Furthermore, a better understanding of the processes involved in word recognition may enable
more specific treatments for individuals with reading disabilities.

2. Reading comprehension

Great readers are deeply immersed in the stories they read. They visualize
the characters, they hear the dialogue in their heads, and they imagine details
beyond the borders of the page. Great readers think about what is happening
in a story and share the emotional journey of the characters.
In nonfiction books, great readers gain new information, increase their
vocabulary, and link what they read with other sources of information in order
to deepen their level of understanding of new concepts and topics.

These are all indicators that your child has a full and rich comprehension of
the texts they read. It is a complex skill that requires time and practice to
develop fully, but inevitably reaps great rewards. It’s no secret that reading for
meaning is the ultimate goal of learning to read. Comprehension is a skill that
will not only affect a child’s future reading ability, but also their academic
ability throughout school and beyond. Encouraging your child to talk about
what they read is a great way to both monitor how much they understand and
improve their comprehension skills. Read how you can build your child’s
reading comprehension skills here.
Reading Eggs is the multi-award winning online reading program designed by
experts to make learning to read easy and fun. It covers all five essential
components of reading instruction for children aged 2–13.