The Reading Act: 03

Components of the Reading Act

The Reading Product

• The product of a reading is the communication of thoughts and emotions by the writer to the reader.
  
  
• The reading product can communicate knowledge of great discoveries or events and accomplishments that occur around the globe.
  
  
• Reading is a means of communicating specifically with friends and acquaintances.
  
  
• Reading can enable a person to find places he or she has never visited.
  
  
• Communication depends on comprehension, which is affected by all aspects of the reading process (discussed in the next section).
  
  
• Comprehension involves more than decoding symbols into sounds; the reader must construct meaning while interacting with the printed page.
  
  
• Some people mistakenly view reading as a single skill, that of pronouncing words, rather than a combination of many skills that lead to the derivation of meaning.
  
  
• Teachers who realize that all aspects of the reading process affect comprehension of written material will be better able to identify children's reading difficulties, and, as a result offer effective instructional programs based on children's needs.