Reading is a skill we all want our children to learn, master, and love. We want our kids to read so they can learn, enjoy stories, and cross the barriers of time, cultures, and geography. The five stages of reading give us insight into how to foster the love of reading in our kids.
Reading will look different for each age, stage, and ability level. I whole heartedly believe there is not a ‘one size fits all’ timeline for learning. Just as kids don’t all walk or learn to ride a bike at the same time, they don’t learn to read at the same time. If we believe each of our kids are unique in all things, then they are also unique in the time and place they learn to read. The age and grade doesn’t matter. What matters is fostering the love of reading at every stage and getting books into our kids hands as early and often as possible.
Let’s use the five stages of reading to better understand what each stage looks like, how we can foster reading at every stage, and what reading will look like during independent reading time in the home.
5 Stages of Reading
Stage 1: The Pre-Reader
What does a pre-reader look like?
A pre-reader is learning about language and the world around him. He is interested in reading and might pick up a book to explore. He might pretend to read a story, notice letters, or share stories from his own experience.
How do we foster the love of reading for a pre-reader?
Read, read, read! Read exciting books to your pre-reader. Tell him a story from your childhood. Read books with rhyming and repetitive text. Read wordless books and help make up the story. Practice predicting what will happen next in a book. Simply reading and enjoying books together is the most important activity at this stage.
What will independent reading time look like for a pre-reader?
Independent reading time is a time everyone in the home sits down to read. For a pre-reader that looks like gathering a stack of books and retelling the story or ‘reading the pictures’. Kids can do this independently with enough modeling and practice from older kids or an adult. Start small with independent reading time, around 3-5 minutes and build up to 10 or 20 minutes over time.
Stage 2: The Novice Reader
What does a novice reader look like?
A novice reader will retell stories, start to memorize sight words, predict unknown words, and use the illustrations to tell the story. A novice reader will begin to sound out words.
How do we foster the love of reading for a novice reader?
The answer is always going to be read. In addition to reading lots of stories to children at this stage, begin introducing new vocabulary to the reader. Most children can understand 4000 words, but can only read 600. Teaching phonics and decoding skills during this stage will graduate the novice reader to a decoding reader.
We use Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons to teach decoding skills and phonics. I have also heard excellent things about Explode the Code.
What will independent reading time look like for the novice reader?
A novice reader will continue to retell stories and ‘read the pictures’ in familiar pictures books. However, the novice reader should be given books he can read on his own in addition to well loved books (Bob books are great for this). Leveled picture books with simple text and illustrations give the reader confidence and enthusiasm for reading.
Stage 3: The Decoding Reader
What does a decoding reader look like?
A decoding reader will use multiple strategies to increase reading fluency. He will use meaning and see and read chunks and sight words easily. A decoding reader independently uses comprehension and predicting strategies. Listening comprehension is still more efficient than reading comprehension at this stage.
How can we foster the love of reading for a decoding reader?
A decoding reader still needs books read aloud above his independent reading level to develop language, vocabulary, and concepts. Read pictures books as well as novels.
When a decoding reader has trouble with a word, you can ask these questions: Does it look right? Does it sound right? Does it make sense?
What does independent reading time look like for a decoding reader?
A decoding reader will be able to read familiar books as well as books at their independent reading level. A decoding reader will be able to stretch and read for longer periods of time. Pay attention to if a decoding reader is reading for pleasure. If he is, he will pick up a book to read during other parts of the day.
Stage 4: The Comprehending Reader
What does a comprehending reader look like?
A comprehending reader is able to decode many more words, use multiple strategies, and comprehend. His fluency and the speed of his reading has increased. At the beginning of this stage, listening comprehension is more efficient than reading comprehension. By the end of this stage, reading comprehension could be more efficient.
How can we foster the love of reading for a comprehending reader?
Expose comprehending readers to diverse texts: text books, newspaper articles, magazines, and unfamiliar texts so they are able to expand their vocabulary and understanding of different texts and concepts. Continue to read aloud books slightly above their independent comprehension level and discuss character, irony, metaphor, point of view, or simply the book and their thoughts.
What does independent reading time look like for a comprehending reader?
Independent reading time for a comprehending reader looks like free time spent reading books of choice as well as recommended texts. It looks like time for discussion directly following independent reading time.
Stage 5: The Independent Reader
What does an independent reader look like?
An independent reader is confident, self-monitoring, and reads for different purposes (pleasure, learning, expanding own interests). He is able to analyze a text, infer, and reads texts from different points of view.
How can we foster the love of reading for an independent reader?
Continue to make reading aloud and discussion a priority. Get clear on what motivates the reader and introduce books he may have interest in, but wouldn’t pick up on his own. Present new authors, genres, and formats he may not be aware of.
What does independent reading time look like for an independent reader?
Independent reading time for an independent reader looks much like that of a comprehending reader. Give ample time for reading and make space for discussion afterwards.
One of the greatest gifts: A love for reading
The five stages of reading give us insight into what reading looks like at all skill levels. A love for reading is one of the greatest gifts we can give our kids. It gives them a ticket onto the path of life long learning. Tell me: how will you foster a love of reading (and learning) in your kids today?