What characterizes the emergent reader stage in children?

The emergent reader stage is characterized by the early stages of literacy development, where children begin to engage with text in a meaningful way. At this stage, children often exhibit behaviors such as pretend reading and recognizing letters of the alphabet. They may not yet be able to read texts independently but show an interest in books and can often retell stories they have heard.

During this phase, children also start to develop an understanding of the concept of print, including the direction in which text is read and the parts of a book, such as the cover and pages. Recognizing letters is a foundational skill that supports their reading journey, as it sets the groundwork for decoding words and making sense of written language in the future.

The other options suggest skills that are beyond the emergent reader stage. For example, understanding complex texts is typically associated with more advanced readers who can analyze themes and concepts, while advanced writing and editing skills are developed later in a child's literacy journey. Similarly, fluency in reading at grade level indicates a proficiency that is not characteristic of emergent readers, who are still in the initial learning phase of reading and writing.