What is one of the key developmental focuses for children entering Chall's reading Stage 2?

The key developmental focus for children entering Chall's reading Stage 2 is consolidating basic decoding skills. This stage, typically occurring in the early grades of elementary school, is characterized by the transition from learning to read to reading to learn. At this point, children solidify their understanding of phonics, word recognition, and decoding strategies, which are essential for navigating more complex texts. Mastery of these fundamental skills enables them to become more fluent readers, facilitating a smoother transition into more sophisticated reading tasks in later stages.

The emphasis on basic decoding is crucial, as it provides a foundation for all future reading skills. Once children are confident in their ability to decode words, they can focus more on comprehension and other reading strategies.