When it comes to children struggling with reading, parents could use some road maps.
An “old-school” concept not discussed much anymore, but that is still quite relevant has to do with the “Stages of Reading Development.”
The stages provide a type of road map, as every child (not just those who are struggling) are somewhere on a continuum within the various stages. Knowing where your child is on this continuum helps to guide you as to what you should be doing relative to any type of instruction or tutoring that may be taking place.
The stages help in what I call “next-step thinking.” That is, they guide you as to what you should be doing next.
Fundamental questions such as, “Does might child need decoding or comprehension,” should be answered by knowing where your child in in the stage, as knowing the stage reveals answers to such questions.
For example, if you know that the child is in early Stage I of development (regardless of the child’s age and grade), that will have clear implication for what the emphasis should be relative to any instruction or remediation taking place.
The concept of the Stages of Reading Development originated from the theories of the late Dr. Jeanne Chall, a renowned reading expert, psychologist and researcher from Harvard University. Even though her theories were written decades ago, they continue to apply today.
Over the next few weeks we will drill down on the stages so that you’ll have a full understanding of the relevance for your child’s development.