Concepts of Print refers to an awareness of “how print works.” This includes understanding the concept of what books, print, and written language are and how they work. It includes several insights that make the reading process possible. An intervention program can assist with learning how print conveys a message, learning how books and print are oriented, distinguishing between sentences, words, and letters, and understanding the alphabetic system.

Phonological awareness is the ability to recognize and manipulate sounds in words. Children with phonological awareness can identify and form oral rhymes, clap out the number of syllables in a word, and recognize words with the same initial sounds. A customized intervention program can assist children develop phonological and phonemic awareness through several activities.

Phonemic awareness is the ability to hear and process individual sounds in spoken words. Developing phonemic awareness is crucial to spelling and word recognition. Students at risk for reading difficulties often have lower levels of phonological and phonemic awareness than their peers. A customized intervention program can assist children develop phonological and phonemic awareness through several activities.

Reading fluency is defined as the ability to read with speed, accuracy, and proper expression. In order to comprehend what is read, students must be able to read fluently, whether reading aloud or silently. A tailored reading fluency intervention program can help improve reading fluency. Evidence-based activities, done reliably, have been shown to help children recognize words at first glance and help students who sound choppy when reading due to difficulty decoding or lack of practice. Reading fluency is also important for motivation; children who find reading difficult generally do not want to read.

Vocabulary refers to the words a student knows, understands, and uses to communicate effectively. In school, it may be referred to as oral vocabulary or reading vocabulary. A tailored reading vocabulary program can help students develop strategies to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words, use context clues, and make connections to comprehend texts.

Reading comprehension is the ability to read a text, process it, and understand its meaning. A customized reading comprehension intervention program provides activities that help struggling readers develop their comprehension skills. Reading research has shown that reading comprehension can help students understand and remember what they read, communicate with others orally and in writing, and draw on prior knowledge and experience to make inferences.