Phonics
Phonics is the relationship between a specific letter and its sound, only as it relates to the written word. With knowledge of phonics, children can try to read the word by focusing on the specific sound of each letter or combination of letters.
For example, if a child does not recognize the word chant, he/she might break the word apart into pieces, such as /ch/ /a/ /n/ /t/.
Fluency
Fluency is the ability to read text accurately and smoothly. When fluent readers read aloud, their expression, intonation, and pacing sound natural — much like speaking.
Phonemic Awareness
Phonemic awareness is the knowledge that words are made up of a combination of individual sounds. For example, the word cat is made up of three sounds (phonemes) /c/ /a/ and /t/. When these three sounds are combined fluidly, they make up the word cat.
Vocabulary
Children continually learn new words indirectly through listening and speaking to the people around them, being read to by others, and reading on their own. When children learn to read, they begin to understand that the words on the page correspond to the words they encounter every day in spoken English.
Reading Comprehension
Text comprehension is the interaction that happens between the reader and text. Since the ultimate goal of reading is to interact with the text, comprehension should be emphasized from an early age.