What is a key component of an effective early reading program according to the National Reading Panel?

A key component of an effective early reading program, as highlighted by the National Reading Panel, is phonemic awareness skills. Phonemic awareness refers to the ability to recognize and manipulate the individual sounds in spoken words, which is crucial for developing strong reading skills. This foundational skill enables children to understand that words are made up of sounds, which they can later match to letters, facilitating the process of decoding words when they begin to read.

Phonemic awareness is considered one of the essential building blocks for reading because it directly impacts a child's ability to sound out new words and understand phonetic patterns. As children develop phonemic awareness, they become better equipped to tackle complex reading tasks, making it a vital focus in early reading instruction.

While strategy instruction for comprehension, fluency through repeated reading, and integrated writing instruction are also important aspects to consider in overall literacy development, they build upon the foundational skills nurtured through phonemic awareness.