A child who is learning to read typically goes through four distinct stages; pre-reader, beginning, intermediate, and advanced. Where does your child fit in?
The Pre-Reader – (Average age is 2 to 4 years old) A child is considered a pre-reader (also called pre-emergent reader) if the following apply:
• He does not yet comprehend that the pages of books have words that tell the story.
• He still plays with books like they are toys.
• He likes to look at the brightly coloured pictures in a book, but does not grasp that the pictures relate to the story.
The Beginning Reader – (Average age is 4 to 6 years old) A child is considered a beginning reader (also known as an emerging reader) if the following apply:
• They have memorised stories and will try to read them many times.
• Uses the pictures on the pages to help read the story.
• Still has problems answering questions about a storybook.
• Reads out loud without stopping for periods or pausing at commas.
• When a word is difficult, they sound out the first letter and make up the rest or completely leave the word out.
The Intermediate Reader – (Average age is 6 to 8 years old) A child is considered an intermediate reader if the following apply:
• Reads fairly smooth but stops to sound out words occasionally.
• Uses context clues (details of the picture or other words in the sentence) to gain the meaning of the story.
• Can usually figure out the meaning of a complex word from the rest of the sentence or paragraph.
• Is able to answer questions about the story.
• Enjoys reading new books, as opposed to the pre-reader or beginning reader who may still want the same story read night after night.
The Advanced Reader – (Average age is 8 years old and up) A child is considered an intermediate reader if the following apply:
• Can read smoothly without breaks.
• Reads out loud expressively and pauses for commas, stops for periods, etc.
• Likes books that do not have pictures.
• Reads full chapter books and comprehends what he reads.
• Can answer multiple questions about a book.
• Shows interest in longer and more detailed books.
The Pre-Reader – (Average age is 2 to 4 years old) A child is considered a pre-reader (also called pre-emergent reader) if the following apply:
• He does not yet comprehend that the pages of books have words that tell the story.
• He still plays with books like they are toys.
• He likes to look at the brightly coloured pictures in a book, but does not grasp that the pictures relate to the story.
The Beginning Reader – (Average age is 4 to 6 years old) A child is considered a beginning reader (also known as an emerging reader) if the following apply:
• They have memorised stories and will try to read them many times.
• Uses the pictures on the pages to help read the story.
• Still has problems answering questions about a storybook.
• Reads out loud without stopping for periods or pausing at commas.
• When a word is difficult, they sound out the first letter and make up the rest or completely leave the word out.
The Intermediate Reader – (Average age is 6 to 8 years old) A child is considered an intermediate reader if the following apply:
• Reads fairly smooth but stops to sound out words occasionally.
• Uses context clues (details of the picture or other words in the sentence) to gain the meaning of the story.
• Can usually figure out the meaning of a complex word from the rest of the sentence or paragraph.
• Is able to answer questions about the story.
• Enjoys reading new books, as opposed to the pre-reader or beginning reader who may still want the same story read night after night.
The Advanced Reader – (Average age is 8 years old and up) A child is considered an intermediate reader if the following apply:
• Can read smoothly without breaks.
• Reads out loud expressively and pauses for commas, stops for periods, etc.
• Likes books that do not have pictures.
• Reads full chapter books and comprehends what he reads.
• Can answer multiple questions about a book.
• Shows interest in longer and more detailed books.