Prereading (birth to age 5)
During this stage, children are developing the skills they need to read, such as print awareness, letter recognition, and phonological awareness. They may start to recognize their own name in print and enjoy being read to.
Emergent reading (ages 5-7)
Beginning readers begin to decode simple words and sentences during this stage. They also develop their fluency and comprehension skills. By the end of this stage, most children are able to read simple chapter books.
Transitional reading (ages 7-10)
During this stage, readers begin to develop more advanced reading skills, such as understanding figurative language and making inferences. They also start to read more complex texts, such as novels and nonfiction books.
Independent reading (ages 10 and up)
Proficient readers are able to read independently and understand a wide variety of texts. They are also able to read for enjoyment and to learn new things.
It is important to note that these stages are not set in stone and that children may progress through them at different rates. Some children may skip a stage entirely, while others may take longer to master a particular skill.