STAGES OF READING

DEVELOPMENT`
The Major Qualitative Characteristics and How
They Are Acquired
1
STAGE 0:
PSEUDO READING
Preschool
(ages 6 months to 6 years)
2
Stage 0
Major
Qualitative
Characteristics
and Masteries
by End of Stage


Pretend reading
Retells story from
pictures
Names alphabet
letters
Prints own name
Plays with books,
pencils, paper
3
Stage 0



How
Acquired


Being read to by
someone who
responds to childs
interest

Being provided with
books, paper,
pencils, letters, time
4
Stage 0




Relationship
of Reading
to Listening


Most can
understand
childrens picture
books and stories
read to them

Can understand
thousands of the
words they hear by
age 6, but can read
few if any of them
5
STAGE 1:
INITIAL READING AND
DECODING

Grade 1 and beginning Grade 2 (ages 6 and 7)
6
Stage 1
Major
Qualitative
Characteristics
and Masteries
by End of
Stage

Learns relation between
letters and sounds and
between printed and
spoken words
Able to read simple text
containing high-
frequency words and
phonically regular words
Sounds out new one-
syllable words

7
Stage 1



How
acquired

Direct instruction and
practice in letter-sound
relationships
Reading of simple
stories using simple
phonic patterns and high
frequency words
Being read to at a higher
level to develop
advanced language
patterns, new words,
and ideas
8
Stage 1





Relationship of
Reading to
Listening
Childs reading level
is much below the
language that is
understood when
heard

At end of stage,
most children
understand 6,000 or
more words but can
read only about 600.
9
STAGE 2:
CONFIRMATION AND
FLUENCY

Grades 2 and 3
(ages 7 and 8)
10
Stage 2
Major
Qualitative
Characteristics
and Masteries
by End of Stage


Reads simple
stories with
increasing fluency

Learns to
consolidate
decoding, sight
vocabulary, &
meaning context to
read stories and
selections
11
Stage 2



How acquired


Direct instruction in
advanced decoding
skills
Wide reading w/
instructional and
independent
materials
Being read to at
levels above their
own to develop
language,
vocabulary and
concepts
12
Stage 2




Relationship of
Reading to
Listening
About 3,000 words
can be read

9,000 or more words
in listening
vocabulary

Listening is still
more effective than
reading
13
STAGE 3:
READING FOR
LEARNING THE NEW

Grades 4-8
(ages 9-13)
14
STAGE 3:
PHASE A & B
A. Intermediate, grades 4-6

B. Junior high school, grades 7-9
15
Stage 3
Major
Qualitative
Characteristics
and Masteries
by End of
Stage


For the first time, may be
responsible for reading
independently to
-learn new ideas,
-gain new knowledge,
-experience new feelings
and attitudes

Generally from one
viewpoint



16
Stage 3



How Acquired


Reading/studying
textbooks, reference
works, trade books,
newspapers, magazines
Being exposed to
unfamiliar vocabulary
and syntax
Systematic study of
words
Reacting to text through
discussions and writing
Reading of more
complex fiction, non-
fiction, etc.
17
Stage 3





Relationship of
Reading to
Listening
At beginning,
listening
comprehension is
still more effective
than reading
By the end, reading
and listening are
about equal
For good readers,
reading is more
efficient
18
STAGE 4:
MULTIPLE
VIEWPOINTS

High school, grades 10-12
(ages 15-17)
19
Stage 4
Major
Qualitative
Characteristics
and Masteries
by End of
Stage


Reading widely from
a broad range of
complex materials--
expository and
narrative

Able to deal with
multiple viewpoints
20
Stage 4



How
Acquired


Wide reading and study
of science and
humanities as well as
newspapers and
magazines

Systematic study of
words and word parts

Formal and creative
writing
21
Stage 4




Relationship of
Reading to
Listening
Reading
comprehension is
better than listening
comprehension of
difficult material

For poorer readers,
listening
comprehension may
be equal to reading
22
STAGE 5:
CONSTRUCTION AND
RECONSTRUCTION

College and beyond
(age 18+)
23
Stage 5
Major
Qualitative
Characteristics
and Masteries
by End of
Stage


Reading is used for
ones own needs
and purposes
Serves to integrate
ones knowledge
with that of others to
synthesize and
create new
knowledge
It is rapid and
efficient
24
Stage 5



How
Acquired


Wide reading of
ever more difficult
materials

Writing papers,
tests, essays that
call for integration of
varied knowledge
and points of view
25
Stage 5





Relationship
of Reading to
Listening
Reading is more
efficient than
listening

26
Implications:
27
Stage 3 is necessary for the industrial workplace
Stage 4 is an absolute for the informational age
Many readers never get beyond Stage 3 and
most reading instruction ends before students
are adept at Stage 3 skills
Most remediation is done in Stage 1 and Stage
2 as well as Stage 3A
However, Stage 3A depends so heavily on
adequate Stage 1 & 2 skills that decoding and
fluency may be more important for older
students whose comprehension seems low