Reading: learning phases, benefits, and activities for its development

Reading and writing processes are developed from the first years of children’s lives. They are processes that become more complicated as the child grows and require the performance of various parts of his brain. These communicative processes allow the child to express what he thinks, feels, and wishes and transform himself and his social and cultural environment significantly.

Reading is a slow and progressive construction process requiring respectful and configured educational intervention. We are not going to expect students to learn what they have not been taught, nor are we going to expect them to know it once and for all. The reading represents a means for learning, the development of intelligence, and the acquisition of culture for life. In the same way, it encourages habits such as reflection, analysis, and entertainment.

Next, we present the four phases of learning to read, strategies and activities for their development, and the benefits. It is important to note that each child will develop these processes at their own pace. So, it is normal for difficulties to arise in the progress of these stages.

Phases of learning how to read:

Logographic

During this phase, logos and images are identified with words. Trademarks and symbols are recognized by their drawing.

Alphabetical

This phase begins at the moment of relating the letters with their sound. Familiarity with the alphabet is created, and children can read phonemes and even words.

Orthographic

The group of letters and words is recognized. It begins to read.

Expressive fluid

During this phase, the child reads perfectly, respecting the punctuation and understanding what he reads.

Leading strategies for reading development:

Activate previous schemes

You can start by asking questions related to the topic of the reading. The ideal is to explore previous knowledge to expose new experiences from there.

Predict

By showing the cover of the reading, the child is asked to make a prediction about what he thinks will happen in the story.

Interpretation of slides

The pictures related to the story are shown, and the child is asked what is happening in the picture.

Paraphrase or summarize

Students can paraphrase parts of the story or summarize the story’s most important events in their own words.

Reconstruct the story in chronological order

You may be asked to retell the story or its events in chronological order; so that, at the same time, stimulates the development of memory.

Open questions

Open questions can be asked about the situations in the story, opinions, and events related to the reading.

Dramatize

Dramatization or role-plays can interpret characters and events related to the story. By dramatizing, the students can put themselves in the place of nature and make decisions as if they were the character.

Fun activities to promote reading:

• Create an alternate ending for the story.
• Write a letter to one of the characters.
• Make a comic strip of the parts of the story that they liked the most.
• Draw pictures of parts of the story.
• Explain what you would have done instead of the characters.

Benefits of reading:

• Stimulates the growth of new neural connections.
• Promotes logical and abstract thinking.
• Exercise memory.
• Powers the imagination.
• Expands vocabulary.
• Wake up motivation.
• Improves public speaking.
• Develops professional and school success.

References

Los beneficios de la lectura para nuestro cerebro. Literatura Infantil y Juvenil SM. (2016). Retrieved 4 April 2022, from https://es.literaturasm.com/somos-lectores/beneficios-de-lectura-nuestro-cerebro#gref

Morin, A. Desarrollo y habilidades lectoras a diferentes edades. Understood.org. Retrieved 4 April 2022, from https://www.understood.org/es-mx/articles/reading-skills-what-to-expect-at-different-ages.