Essential reading skills extend beyond just recognizing words on a page. Foundational skills include phonological awareness, which allows a reader to recognize sound structures, and decoding, which involves translating printed words into speech. Developing a strong vocabulary is vital for understanding context and nuance within a text. Fluency is another key skill, enabling the reader to process information without struggling over individual words. Beyond these, higher-order skills like inference, where a reader understands what is not explicitly stated, and critical thinking are necessary for deep comprehension. Monitoring one’s own understanding, or metacognition, ensures that the reader knows when they have missed a point and need to reread, ultimately leading to a more thorough grasp of the material.
