(Department of Education, Science and Training, 2005). Effective reading instruction occurs when a child successfully learns to read fluently, confidently, with full understanding of meaning and context. A teacher should understand the developmental aspects of how a child learns to read, but also how to engage a modern child with rich, authentic texts that motivate and connect to his or her social background. An educator should incorporate the curriculum and also be open to choosing, adapting and structuring approaches using techniques that best suit his or her teaching styles and situations. Approaching literacy with a balanced approach of both meaning and skill-oriented methods supports the development of a child's phonological awareness and comprehension skills, and supports the elements surrounding these components. Each area must be taught explicitly and systematically for learning to occur and strategies put in place to work towards developing independent readers who can read text fluently, but also derive meaning from it, which is both beneficial and critical for long-term success. in a child's literacy