Who developed the five stages of reading?

Jeanne Chall is recognized for developing the five stages of reading development, which provide a framework for understanding how children acquire reading skills as they progress through different stages. Her model emphasizes the cognitive and developmental aspects of learning to read, categorizing the process into five distinct stages:

1. Pre-reading or emergent literacy

2. Initial reading or decoding

3. Confirmation and fluency

4. Reading for learning the new

5. Multiple viewpoints and construction and reconstruction of meaning.

This framework has significantly influenced reading instruction and assessment by highlighting the progression that most learners typically exhibit as they evolve from novice readers to proficient ones. Each stage is marked by specific developmental milestones, and Chall’s work has guided educators in structuring curricula that align with students' reading capabilities.