Praxis SLP Licensure Exam

Which stage of Chall's reading stages is characterized by reading for learning the new?

1. Stage 1: initial reading or decoding

2. Stage 2: confirmation, fluency, ungluing from print

3. Stage 3: reading for learning the new

4. Stage 4: multiple viewpoints

The correct answer is: Stage 3: reading for learning the new

The stage characterized by reading for learning the new is indeed the third stage of Chall's reading stages. At this point, students transition from learning to read to reading to learn. This stage typically occurs around grades 4 to 8, where learners begin to unlock the knowledge that broader reading can provide. They start to engage with more complex texts, acquiring new information and understanding concepts across various subjects rather than simply practicing the mechanics of reading. During this stage, readers are expected to build a deeper comprehension of text, integrating their prior knowledge with new information they encounter. This shift is crucial, as it marks a significant development in a child's educational journey, where reading becomes a tool for gathering and processing information rather than just decoding letters and words. The other stages, while essential to the overall process of literacy development, focus on different skills and cognitive processes. The first stage is about initial decoding skills, the second emphasizes fluency and the ease of reading, and the fourth stage involves critical thinking and perspective-taking with multiple viewpoints. These stages lay the foundation for the reader to effectively engage with and learn from complex texts, culminating in the capabilities outlined in the third stage.