What is a key component of effective reading instruction?

A key component of effective reading instruction is the comprehensive integration of phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. This approach acknowledges that reading is a complex skill that requires multiple facets to be learned and mastered.

Phonemic awareness is crucial as it helps learners understand and manipulate the sounds in words, while phonics provides the necessary skills to decode these sounds into written words. Fluency is important because it allows students to read smoothly and efficiently, which contributes to better comprehension. Vocabulary development enhances students' ability to understand and use language effectively, while comprehension is the ultimate goal of reading, enabling students to extract meaning from text and make connections.

This holistic strategy ensures that students build a strong foundation in all areas of reading rather than focusing on just one aspect, which can lead to gaps in their overall reading development. The other options focus on limited or exclusive approaches, which may not adequately support comprehensive reading skill development.