In 1997, Congress asked the Director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) at the National Institutes of Health, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, to convene a national panel to assess the effectiveness of different approaches used to teach children to read.

For over two years, the National Reading Panel (NRP) reviewed research-based knowledge on reading instruction and held open panel meetings in Washington, DC, and regional meetings across the United States. On April 13, 2000, the NRP concluded its work and submitted “The Report of the National Reading Panel: Teaching Children to Read.” Their findings revealed six variables of early literacy that correlate with literacy development:

1.Print awareness (noticing words, knowing how to hold a book)
2.Print motivation (interest in books and reading)
3.Vocabulary (learning names of things)
4.Narrative Skills (describing things and understanding stories)
5.Letter awareness (recognizing letters and the sounds of letters)
6.Phonological awareness (hearing sounds in words)

If you’re looking for easy ways to promote literacy skills with your children, students, or any kids you work with, check out our family literacy activities page!