Reading involves complex thinking. Environments rich in literacy experiences, resources, and models facilitate reading development. Engagement in the reading task is key in successfully learning to read. Children s understandings of print are not the same as adults understandings. Children develop phonemic awareness and knowledge of phonics through a variety of literacy opportunities, models, and demonstrations.
Children learn successful reading strategies in the context of real reading.
Children learn best when teachers employ a variety of strategies to model and demonstrate reading knowledge, strategy, and skills. Children need the opportunity to read, read, read. Monitoring the development of reading processes is vital to student success. On the flip side, Braunger and Lewis present a list of practices that hinder children s development as readers. Children could lose access to the rich resources and interactions that prompt engagements with reading, outlined in the 13 core understandings.