I.

INTRODUCTION TO DEVELOPMENTAL READING

a. Reading
- Developmental Reading, a branch of reading instruction, is
designed to support literacy in a variety of contexts to enhance
reading comprehension and decoding skills.
- Reading is defined by various experts devoted to studying
many aspects of reading.
a. Reading as a skill is a cognitive process in which a
symbol is deciphered to understand its meaning. As an
active process of building the meaning of words,
targeted reading helps readers focus information on
goals and their attention. There are many reasons to
read, but the main purpose of reading is to understand
the text.
b. Reading is a thought process. It allows readers to use
what they may already know, or what is also known as
prior knowledge. In processing this information, readers
use strategies to understand what they are reading,
topics to organize ideas, and text queues to find new
word meanings.
c. Reading is a tool for editing, communicating and
sharing information and ideas. By reading, you expose
yourself to new things, new information, new ways of
solving problems, and new ways of accomplishing
something.
b. Five Components of Reading
1. Phonemic Awareness
Phonemes are the smallest sound units used to form spoken
words. Phonemic awareness refers to the student’s ability to
focus on and manipulate phonemes (sounds) in spoken
syllables and words.
2. Phonics
Phonics is the relationship between the letters in written
language and the individual sounds in spoken language.
Phonics instruction teaches students how to use these
relationships to read and spell words. Phonics associates
sounds with written symbols (the alphabet).
3. Fluency
Fluent readers are able to read orally with appropriate speed,
accuracy, and proper expression. Fluency is the ability to read
as well as we speak and to make sense of the text without
having to stop and decode each word.
4. Vocabulary
Vocabulary is closely connected to comprehension. The larger
the reader’s vocabulary (either oral or print) the easier it is to
make sense of the text.
 5. Comprehension
Comprehension is the complex cognitive process readers use
to understand what they have read. Vocabulary development
and instruction play a critical role in comprehension.
c. Importance of Reading Skills in Education
1. Comprehension
Reading enables individuals to understand and interpret
various texts, including textbooks, instructions, and
informational materials. Strong comprehension skills are vital
for grasping concepts across all subjects.
2. Critical Thinking
Through reading, learners engage in critical thinking by
analyzing, evaluating, and synthesizing information. It
encourages them to question, infer, and draw conclusions,
fostering intellectual growth and problem-solving abilities.
3. Vocabulary Development
Reading exposes individuals to diverse vocabulary, enriching
their language skills and enhancing communication abilities. A
broad vocabulary facilitates comprehension and expression in
both academic and real-world contexts.
4. Academic Achievement
Proficient readers tend to perform better academically across
subjects. They can effectively extract information from
textbooks, research materials, and other educational
resources, leading to improved grades and academic success.
5. Empowerment
Reading empowers individuals by providing access to
knowledge, ideas, and perspectives from various cultures,
disciplines, and time periods. It fosters intellectual curiosity
and lifelong learning, enabling individuals to pursue personal
and professional growth.
d. Reading Strategies
1. PREVIEWING
Previewing is a strategy that readers use to recall prior
knowledge and set a purpose for reading.
• Scanning
• Skimming
2. QUESTIONING
Questioning involves generating questions before, during, and
after reading to stimulate curiosity, clarify understanding, and
promote critical thinking. This strategy encourages readers to
actively interact with the text and seek answers to their
inquiries.
 3. ANNOTATING
To annotate is to actively engage a text by pausing to reflect,
mark up, and add notes as you read. It can increase
comprehension, help you remember what you’ve read, and
save you time by not requiring you to re-read as often. The
simplest ways to annotate include marking up the text by
highlighting, underlining, bracketing, or placing symbols in the
text or the margins, but simply highlighting is insufficient.
4. SUMMARIZING
Condensing someone else’s ideas and putting it into your own
shortened form.
5. PARAPHRASING
The act of putting an author’s ideas into your own words.

“The more you read, the more things will know. The more that you learn, the more places
you’ll go” – Dr. Seuss