Stages of Reading

From Scholastic Red

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Setting Expectations and Motivating
Listen and watch as Dr. Louisa Moats describes each step in Dr. Jean Chall's stages of reading.

Development: Refined and modified over 20 years, the stages of reading development outlined by Harvard Professor Jeanne Chall begin at birth and continue beyond college. The successive stages are characterized by a growth in the ability to read more complex, technical, and abstract material.

Like any steps or growth process, the stages will overlap for all readers. Each individual's progress through the stages is also affected by interactions with their environment. Supporting students' development requires understanding the theory from two points of view:

• What to look for at each stage.
• How to support development, or what works instructionally.

A Look at the Research: Dr. Jeanne Chall's Stages of Reading Development (PDF)

The resources on this page are from Scholastic Red Professional Development Course Improving Reading Comprehension, Grades 3-5. Learn about Scholastic Red courses for classroom teachers.

 

Performance Assessment for Reading
Ways to measure reading comprehension that support the natural act of reading and responding to a story, and allow for diverse interpretations.

Independent Reading Contract
Give students ideas for reading aloud or quietly, plus writing responses that you can use for assessing comprehension.

Standardized Tests: Help Your Child Prepare for High-Stakes Exams
What you should know about standardized tests. What these high-stakes tests measure. How to prepare you child and calm his test anxiety.

LESSON PLAN	Using Each Trait to Improve Student Writing Presents a lesson where students apply previously learned 6 +1 writing traits toward improving their own work.
UNIT PLAN	Getting Down to Business Use this exciting writing prompt to get kids to voice their opinion, and to provide a means of reading and writing assessment. Students write...