STAGES OF
LITERACY
EMERGENT PRE-READER
(typically between 6 months to 6 years
old)
During the initial phase of the reading
development process children sample
and learn from a full range of multiple
sounds, words, concepts, images,
stories, exposure to print, literacy
materials, and just plain talk during
the first five years of life.
2
As the earliest stage of literacy development, emergent literacy is the first
moment that a child begins to understand letters and words. While many
of the behaviors of the emergent literacy stage are not fully formed and
irregular, these are still some of the first signs that a child is beginning to
form literacy ability.
Here are Some Behaviors of Stage 1 Learners:
Pretending to be able to read children’s books.
The ability to recognize the first letter of their name.
Singing the ABCs, even if unable to identify letters separately.
Trying to memorize certain books to “read” them.
The ability to recognize some letters and potentially their sound.
The ability to find words in their environment.
BEGINNING READER
(TYPICALLY BETWEEN 6 TO 7 YEARS OLD)
During the second phase of the reading
development process children are learning
the relationships between letters and
sounds and amongst printed and spoken
words. The child begins to read stories with
high-frequency words and phonically
regular words and uses emerging skills and
insights to “sound out” new one-syllable
words.
4
As the child grows older and more comfortable with learning their words
and letters, they enter the alphabetic fluency stage of literacy development.
Here are Some Behaviors of Stage 2 Learners:
No longer “pretend” reading.
Finger-pointing to words while reading them.
Beginning to recognize words.
Admitting that they’re unable to read certain words.
Using pictures and context clues to figure out certain words.
Reading out loud word by word.
DECODING READER
(TYPICALLY BETWEEN 7 – 9 YEARS OLD)
During the third phase of the reading
development, process children are
beginning to read familiar stories and text
with increasing fluency. This is accomplished
by consolidating the foundational decoding
elements, sight vocabulary, and meaning in
the reading of stories and selections that the
child is already familiar with.
6
Sometimes referred to as the “transitional” stage of literacy development, the words
and patterns stage is when children begin to develop stronger reading skills. This is the
stage when children can vary the most in terms of skills and may adopt behaviors in
multiple stages of literacy development.
Here are Some Behaviors of Stage 3 Learners:
Less decoding of words and stronger ability to comprehend reading materials.
More self-correction when what is read is unclear.
Less sound by sound reading and easier time grouping letters.
Able to recognize words that pop up most often automatically.
Less reliance on context clues to figure out unknown words.
Beginning to be able to spell complex consonant words like “-tch”.
FLUENT READER
(TYPICALLY BETWEEN 9 – 15 YEARS OLD)
During the fourth phase of the reading
development process, reading is used to
acquire new ideas to gain new knowledge, to
experience new feelings, to acquire new
attitudes, and to explore issues from multiple
perspectives. Reading includes the study of
textbooks, reference works, trade books,
newspapers, and magazines that contain new
ideas and values, new vocabulary and syntax.
8
During the intermediate stage of literacy development, children begin to
rely less on educational crutches that help a child learn new words. This is
also when children are becoming able to write out sentences with less error
and develop stronger fluency overall.
Here are Some Behaviors of Stage 4 Learners:
Reading to learn new information and writing for multiple purposes.
Less difficulty with independent reading.
Reading to explore new concepts from numerous perspectives.
Reading longer materials such as textbooks with little difficulty.
An interest in wanting to learn and develop new vocabulary.
EXPERT READER
(TYPICALLY FROM 16 YEARS AND OLDER)
During the fifth phase of the reading
development process, the learner is reading
from a wide range of advanced materials,
both expository and narrative, with multiple
viewpoints. Learners are reading broadly
across the disciplines, including the physical,
biological and social sciences as well as the
humanities, politics and current affairs.
10
As the last stage of literacy development, advanced reading is when children
become fully fluent and capable of relying on independent reading to learn new
information. Reading and writing provide little difficulty and students can absorb
complex reading materials during this stage.
Here are Some Behaviors of Stage 5 Learners:
The desire to read numerous types of reading materials.
Reading becomes a daily tool for learning new information.
The ability to formulate longer texts such as essays or book reports.
Readers usually have a strong understanding of the meaning and semantics of
words.
The ability to understand and retain complex reading materials.
ACTIVITY: Identify the
stage of literacy
describe in each
statement
1. Readers usually have a strong
understanding of the meaning and semantics
of words.
2. Reading to explore new concepts from
numerous perspectives.
3. Singing the ABCs, even if unable to identify
letters separately.
4. The ability to understand and retain
complex reading materials.
5. The ability to find words in their
environment.
