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)

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
Being read to by

How
Acquired

someone who
responds to childs
interest
Being provided with

books, paper, pencils,

letters, time

Stage 0
Most can understand

childrens picture
books and stories
read to them

Relationship
of Reading
to Listening

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 onesyllable words

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

Stage 1
Childs reading level is

much below the

language that is
understood when
heard

Relationship

Reading to
Listening

of

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

Reads simple stories

Characteristics
and Masteries by
End of Stage

Learns to consolidate

with increasing
fluency

decoding, sight
vocabulary, &
meaning context to
read stories and
selections
11

Stage 2
Direct instruction in

How acquired

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
About 3,000 words

can be read
9,000 or more words

in listening vocabulary

Relationship of

Reading to
Listening

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
At beginning, listening

Relationship of

Reading to
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
Reading widely from

Major

Qualitative
Characteristics
and Masteries
by End of
Stage

a broad range of
complex materials-expository and
narrative
Able to deal with

multiple viewpoints

20

Stage 4

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

How

Acquired

21

Stage 4
Reading

comprehension is
better than listening
comprehension of
difficult material

Relationship of

Reading to
Listening

For poorer readers,

listening
comprehension may
be equal to reading
22

Stage 5:
Construction and
Reconstruction
College and beyond
(age 18+)
23

Stage 5
Reading is used for

Major

Qualitative
Characteristics
and Masteries
by End of
Stage

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
Wide reading of ever

more difficult
materials

How

Writing papers, tests,

Acquired

essays that call for

integration of varied
knowledge and points
of view

25

Stage 5
Reading is more

efficient than listening

Relationship

of Reading to
Listening

26

Implications:
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

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