Many parents are amazed at how much their children's reading develops in only a few short years. From kindergarten through third grade, children progress from reading simple picture books containing only a few words per page to reading chapter books that contain only a few pictures. Children learn new reading skills each year. Most children in kindergarten through grade three go through these stages of reading development:
Kindergarteners read simple, predictable books by drawing on their memory of a book that has been read aloud to them and referring to the pictures. They may also begin to recognize short, commonly used words that are repeated in the text.
first graders begin to "crack the code" of written language by using their knowledge of simple words and the relationships between sounds and letters to "decode" words.
Second- and third-graders are able to read increasingly difficult words. They also begin to read with greater speed, fluency, and expression.
This article lets you experience reading development firsthand. You can listen in as a typical child from each grade reads a book aloud.Click on the book to begin.