Reading Is Fundamental It has been said that “reading is
fundamental.” If you think of the word fundamental as meaning
“essential”, I would agree that this quote is correct. However,
if you think of the word fundamental to mean “basic,” I would
have difficulty agreeing with the quote. For most children,
reading is fundamental in every aspect of the word. It is
essential and necessary, it is also basic and elementary.
However, there is a percentage of children who do not fit the
fundamental category. Although reading is essential and
necessary for everyone, there are children who find the task of
reading and learning to read to be the most difficult thing that
they have ever been asked to do. Children struggle with learning
the letters of the alphabet, the sounds associated with the
letters, and the ability to put those letters and sounds
together to read and make words. When children begin the reading
process frustrated and feeling incapable, they may also
experience vulnerability and fear. These are feelings