The panel found that the most effective course of reading instruction includes explicit and systematic instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency, and reading comprehension strategies. The National Reading Panel reached several major conclusions. First, teaching phonemic awareness to children significantly improves their reading. Second, understanding the relation between sounds and letters helps students from K-6th grade and children having difficulty learning to read. Third, fluent readers are able to read orally with speed, accuracy, and proper expression.
Fluency is one critical factor necessary for reading comprehension.
Fourth, vocabulary development, background knowledge, text comprehension strategies are all critical to the development of reading comprehension. Fifth, guided oral reading procedures that include guidance from teachers, peers or parents have a significant and positive impact on word recognition, fluency, and comprehension. In other words, reading cannot be picked up the way speech can. It must be taught. Studies also show that it is much easier to learn to read before 4th grade than after, so reading should be taught early, and every child should learn to read before the fourth grade.