What should be the primary focus of reading instruction?

The primary focus of reading instruction should be on developing decoding and comprehension skills because these are foundational to becoming a proficient reader. Decoding skills enable students to translate written text into spoken language, which is essential for reading fluency. Comprehension skills, on the other hand, allow students to understand and interpret what they are reading, which is crucial for extracting meaning from text and engaging with it on a deeper level.

Effective reading instruction integrates these two components—decoding and comprehension—to support students in their journey toward literacy. Decoding ensures that students can read words accurately, while comprehension ensures that they can think critically about the content, make connections, and respond to texts thoughtfully. This comprehensive approach fosters a more substantial reading ability that prepares students for varied reading tasks across different subjects and contexts, promoting lifelong learning and a love for reading.