Final answer:
The stage of reading development from birth to the start of first grade is called Stage 0. In this stage, children learn the prerequisites for reading, including identifying letters and beginning to understand the structure of language.
Step-by-step explanation:
Stages of Reading Development The stage of reading that lasts from birth to the start of first grade is known as Stage 0. During this period, children learn the prerequisites for reading, such as identifying letters, gaining phonemic awareness, and understanding that print carries meaning. This stage forms the foundation upon which further reading skills are developed. It is the time when exposure to books and language plays a critical role in setting the stage for literacy acquisition. As children interact with their environment, they begin to recognize familiar words and understand the importance of language as a means of communication. Around this age, most children also develop the motor skills necessary for eventual writing, learn new words rapidly, and start to combine them into simple sentences. As they progress, they often begin to recognize letters and some simple words, paving the way for the formal reading instruction that typically begins in first grade.