A Balanced Approach to Teaching Reading. Learning to speak is a naturally occurring process and is an almost effortless learning experience for young children. This is largely due to the fact that we humans evolved as animals capable of communicating orally. However, learning to read is a completely different skill to master, this is because humans have been literate for a very short time. There are five key areas that teachers need to focus on to effectively teach reading to young students. These five areas have become known as the five pillars of effective reading teaching and include: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. To effectively teach students these five pillars, a teacher must do so with a balanced approach using direct and explicit teaching methods. Taking a balanced approach is a key criterion for effective teaching of reading, the NICHD with scientific evidence has identified that the most reliable and effective approach in teaching the five pillars is through systematic and explicit instruction (NICHD 2000). Phonemics, phonemic awareness and phonological awareness are now widely used in the teaching of reading but are often misunderstood in their precise meaning. Phonological awareness and phonemic awareness are often used together, although it should be emphasized that these two terms are not and do not mean the same thing (Konza, 2011). Phonological awareness is a skill that allows students to blend sounds together; they are able to segment words into their constituent sounds (phonemes) and therefore combine the sounds of words, as well as knowing whether two words have the same sound (Anthony & Francis, 2005). S...... half the paper ...... like the “Goldilocks” phenomenon – not too much, not too little, but just the right amount (Miller, p.42, 2013) A balanced approach to literacy is aimed at teachers gradually releasing responsibility from teachers through systematic and explicit instruction to students. In order for this process to be facilitated effectively, teachers must first possess the knowledge and programming skills necessary to effectively impart knowledge to students, and in a fun and engaging way that students actively want to learn. Teachers must also take steps to know their students' skill level and developmental needs. It is critical that the teacher understands the different level of ability among students, consequently providing effective, systematic and explicit instruction to achieve positive outcomes for all students.