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Reading isn't just about recognizing words; it's about understanding them, connecting with stories, and building confidence. The "Big Six of Reading" are six key skills that lay the foundation for your child's reading success. Each skill plays a unique role in helping children become strong, confident readers.
If your child is struggling with reading or you're looking to support their literacy journey, understanding these six components can make a significant difference. They're not just buzzwords; they're proven strategies that educators use to guide young learners toward reading proficiency.
In this guide, we'll break down each of the Big Six, explain why they're important, and share simple, everyday activities you can do at home to support your child's reading development.
TLDR
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The Big Six of Reading are essential skills that support your child’s reading development.
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These six skills include Oral Language, Phonological Awareness, Phonics, Vocabulary, Fluency, and Comprehension.
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Understanding these skills helps parents better support their child's reading progress and academic success.
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Practical activities, such as storytelling, rhyme games, and repeated reading, can be incorporated to reinforce each component.
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Key tips for supporting reading at home include creating a daily reading routine, encouraging independent reading, and engaging in meaningful conversations.
Why Understanding the Big Six of Reading Is Important?
Understanding the Big Six of Reading is essential for parents aiming to support their child's literacy development. These six components are the building blocks of proficient reading. By grasping their significance, you can better assist your child in becoming a confident and capable reader.
Here are five reasons why understanding the Big Six matters:
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Foundation for Reading Success: Each component plays a crucial role in helping children decode words, understand meanings, and enjoy reading.
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Guides Effective Support at Home: Knowing these components allows you to engage in targeted activities, such as reading aloud or playing sound-based games, to reinforce your child's skills.
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Identifies Areas Needing Attention: If your child struggles with certain aspects, like phonics or comprehension, understanding the Big Six helps pinpoint specific areas to focus on.
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Enhances Academic Performance: Proficiency in these areas leads to better reading fluency and comprehension, contributing to overall academic success.
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Fosters a Lifelong Love of Reading: When children develop strong reading skills, they are more likely to enjoy reading, which supports continuous learning and curiosity.
By familiarizing yourself with the Big Six, you can play an active role in nurturing your child's reading abilities, setting them on a path to academic achievement and a lifelong love of reading.
Now that we understand why these skills are essential, let’s take a closer look at the six key components that form the foundation of your child’s reading journey.
Also Reading: Unlocking Your Child's Potential: How an Online Reading Tutor for Kindergarten Can Transform Learning
What Are the Big Six of Reading?
The Big Six of Reading are six essential skills that work together to help your child become a confident and capable reader. Each skill plays a unique role in the reading process, and when combined, they lay a strong foundation for literacy. Here are the big six of reading:
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Oral Language
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Phonological Awareness
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Phonics
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Vocabulary
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Fluency
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Comprehension
Now, let's explore each in detail:
1. Oral Language
Oral language encompasses the skills of listening and speaking. It's the ability to understand and use spoken words to express thoughts, ideas, and feelings. Developing strong oral language skills involves engaging in conversations, storytelling, and active listening. These skills form the foundation for reading and writing.
A child's ability to understand and use spoken language is a significant predictor of their reading comprehension skills. Children with a rich oral language environment tend to have better vocabulary, sentence structure, and overall literacy development. Engaging in regular conversations and listening activities enhances their ability to comprehend and produce written text.
Activities to Try:
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Storytelling Together: Take turns telling a story, building upon each other's ideas. This promotes creativity and narrative skills.
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Daily Conversations: Engage in meaningful conversations about daily events, encouraging your child to express their thoughts and feelings.
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Role-Playing: Use costumes or props to act out different scenarios, helping your child practice new vocabulary and sentence structures.
2. Phonological Awareness
Phonological awareness is the ability to recognize and manipulate the sounds in spoken words. It includes skills such as identifying rhymes, counting syllables, and recognizing the initial sounds in words. This skill is crucial before children learn to associate sounds with letters.
Phonological awareness is a strong predictor of later reading success. Children who can identify and manipulate sounds in spoken language are better equipped to decode words when reading. This skill lays the groundwork for understanding the alphabetic principle, which is essential for reading and spelling.
Activities to Try:
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Rhyme Time: Say a word and have your child come up with as many rhyming words as possible. For example, "cat" – "hat," "bat," "rat."
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Clapping Syllables: Say a word and have your child clap the syllables. For example, "banana", clap three times.
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Sound Sorting: Use picture cards and have your child sort them based on their beginning sounds. For example, sorting pictures of "dog," "duck," and "doll" under the letter "D."
3. Phonics
Phonics involves understanding the relationship between letters and their corresponding sounds. It teaches children how to decode written words by sounding them out and blending sounds together. Phonics instruction includes teaching letter-sound correspondences and spelling patterns
Phonics instruction is vital for developing reading skills. It helps children decode unfamiliar words, which is essential for fluent reading. Research shows that systematic phonics instruction is more effective than other methods in helping children become proficient readers.
Activities to Try:
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Alphabet Scavenger Hunt: Pick a favorite read-aloud book and have your child find each letter in the print, in alphabetical order. Ask your child if some letters are harder to spot in every book, and guess why that might be.
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Letter Says: Try this phonics-friendly version of Simon Says: Give each child a card with an uppercase or lowercase letter. Give instructions based on letters: “Simon Says, if you’re holding an uppercase C, touch your nose!”
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Word Chaining: Start with a simple word like "cat." Change one letter at a time to make new words: "cat" → "bat" → "bit" → "sit." This helps children understand how changing letters affects word meanings.
4. Vocabulary
Vocabulary refers to the set of words a person knows and understands. It includes both spoken and written words and encompasses knowledge of word meanings, pronunciation, and usage. Building vocabulary involves exposure to new words through reading, conversation, and explicit instruction.
A strong vocabulary is crucial for reading comprehension. Children with a broad vocabulary can understand and interpret texts more effectively. Vocabulary development supports other reading skills, such as phonics and fluency, and contributes to overall academic success.
Activities to Try:
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Word of the Day: Introduce a new word each day, discuss its meaning, and use it in sentences. Encourage your child to use the word throughout the day.
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Story Bag: Fill a bag with various objects. Have your child pick one, describe it, and create a short story using that object.
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Synonym Swap: Choose a simple word and find synonyms together. For example, "happy", "joyful," "cheerful," "content." Use these synonyms in sentences to understand their meanings.
5. Fluency
Fluency is the ability to read text smoothly and accurately, with appropriate speed and expression. Fluent readers recognize words quickly, which allows your child to focus on understanding the meaning of the text rather than decoding individual words.
Fluency bridges the gap between word recognition and comprehension. Fluent readers can read with expression and understand the text more deeply. Developing fluency requires practice and is supported by strong phonics skills and vocabulary knowledge.
Activities to Try:
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Repeated Reading: Choose a short passage and read it together several times. Each time, encourage your child to read more smoothly and with better expression.
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Echo Reading: You read a sentence with expression, and your child repeats it after you, mimicking your tone and pace. This helps build fluency and confidence.
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Poetry Practice: Read poems with your child, emphasizing rhythm and expression. Poetry often has a natural flow that aids in developing fluency.
6. Comprehension
Comprehension is the ability to understand and interpret what is read. It involves making connections between new information and prior knowledge, drawing inferences, and recalling details. Comprehension strategies include predicting, questioning, and summarizing.
Comprehension is the ultimate goal of reading. Without comprehension, reading is a mechanical process without meaning. Strong comprehension skills are essential for success in all academic areas and for lifelong learning.
Activities to Try:
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Think-Alouds: While reading, pause and verbalize your thoughts. For example, "I think the character feels sad because..." Encourage your child to do the same.
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Story Mapping: Create a visual map of the story's key elements, including characters, setting, problem, and solution. This helps your child organize and understand the story better.
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Questioning: Ask open-ended questions about the story, such as "What do you think will happen next?" or "Why did the character act that way?" This promotes critical thinking and deeper understanding.
By supporting your child in developing these six skills, you help them become a strong, confident reader.
As you work to develop these essential skills at home, here are some practical tips to further support your child's reading journey.
Also Read: Understanding Reading Milestones: When and How Kids Learn to Read
Tips for Supporting Your Child's Reading Journey
Fostering a love for reading in your child goes beyond structured lessons. It's about creating an environment that encourages exploration, curiosity, and a positive attitude toward books. Here are some practical tips to help you support your child's reading development:
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Establish a Daily Reading Routine: Consistency is key. Set aside a specific time each day for reading together. Whether it's during breakfast, before bed, or after school, a regular reading schedule helps build a habit and makes reading a part of your child's daily life.
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Create a Cozy Reading Space: Designate a quiet, comfortable area in your home filled with a variety of age-appropriate books. A cozy reading nook can make reading more inviting and enjoyable for your child.
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Encourage Independent Reading: As your child grows more confident, encourage them to read on their own. Provide books that match their reading level and interests. Celebrate their progress to build confidence and motivation.
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Be a Reading Role Model: Children often mimic the behaviors of adults. Let your child see you reading books, magazines, or newspapers. Discuss what you're reading to show that reading is a valuable and enjoyable activity.
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Use Technology Wisely: Incorporate educational apps and e-books that promote reading skills. Tools like the Kindle Colorsoft Kids offer interactive features that can engage young readers.
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Be Patient and Encouraging: Every child learns at their own pace. Celebrate small victories and be patient with challenges. Your encouragement and support are crucial to their reading journey.
By integrating these tips into your daily routine, you can create a supportive environment that nurtures your child's reading skills and fosters a lifelong love of books.
As you implement these tips at home, it's also valuable to consider how structured, expert-led programs can further support your child's reading journey.
Also Read: Kindergarten Reading Tips for Parents
The Role of the FunFox Program in Enhancing Reading Skills
The Big Six of Reading offers a clear, practical framework to help your child become a confident and capable reader. By focusing on each of these key skills, you’re better equipped to support their growth at home. Small, consistent efforts from your side can make reading enjoyable and meaningful for years to come.
If you want extra support in making reading fun and effective, FunFox Readers Club is an innovative online reading program designed for children in grades 2 to 8. Our program aligns with the Australian curriculum. We focus on developing foundational skills such as reading fluency, comprehension, inference, and critical thinking.
What FunFox Offers:
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Weekly 1-Hour Live Zoom Lessons: Conducted in small groups of 3-6 students to offer personalized attention.
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Interactive Learning Materials: Access to a digital learning portal featuring interactive worksheets and games to reinforce learning.
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Ongoing, Process-Based Feedback: Integrated feedback during lessons to guide continuous improvement.
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Engaging Activities: Incorporation of educational games and hands-on activities to make learning enjoyable.
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Experienced and Dedicated Teachers: Educators trained in the proprietary FunFox Way, focusing on delivering exceptional online learning experiences.
By participating in the Readers Club, your child not only enhances their reading skills but also develops a love for reading, setting a strong foundation for academic success.
So, if you want extra support in building these skills through engaging, teacher-led sessions, register for a free trial class today!
FAQs
1. Why is vocabulary considered a strong predictor of reading success?
Students with broader vocabulary understand written texts more deeply and make more accurate inferences. Vocabulary growth also supports reading fluency and comprehension across subjects.
2. What is structured literacy, and how does it integrate the Big Six?
Structured literacy delivers explicit, sequential instruction across skills such as phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and often writing. It ensures these are taught cumulatively, consistently, and responsively.
3. Can the Big Six help address reading gaps in struggling readers?
Yes. The framework supports teachers in identifying specific skill deficits (e.g., weak decoding vs vocabulary gaps) and tailoring interventions accordingly. That approach is directly aligned with the principle of structured literacy.
4. How useful is the “PLAN” reading strategy for the Big Six?
Predict, Locate, Add, Note is a scaffolded strategy split across before, during, and after reading. This helps learners activate prior knowledge, monitor understanding, and summarize key ideas, supportive of comprehension within the Big Six context.
5. What practical questions can families ask children about their reading?
Parents and caregivers can ask about characters, setting, themes, predictions, and personal connections to the text. This fosters oral language, vocabulary, and comprehension in context.
