National Reading Panel

There are two groups that help set the standards for reading: National Reading Panel (NRP) and International Reading Association (IRA).

The NRP is a group of reading experts who review research-based knowledge in reading instruction. Their two main goals are to:

• Assess reading research instruction approaches
• Disseminate and implement research-based reading practices

(National Reading Panel, n.d.)
From this research the NRP has developed recommendations regarding effective practices and listed five essential components that must be included in reading instruction:

• Phonemic awareness
• Phonics
• Fluency
• Vocabulary development
• Comprehension strategies

Their research directly affects teachers because all funding for reading goes to schools that include those five components. Schools must document teaching and adequate yearly progress within those five components.

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