What is one characteristic of an 'Emergent Reader'?

An 'Emergent Reader' typically begins to understand that reading serves multiple purposes, which is a key characteristic of this developmental stage. At this level, the reader starts to grasp that texts can entertain, inform, or convey emotions, indicating a growing awareness of the context and reasons for reading. This recognition is foundational and supports further literacy development, as it encourages exploration of different types of texts and their functions.

In contrast, the ability to write a story independently, advanced vocabulary skills, and reading at grade-level fluency are more indicative of later stages of reading development. These skills reflect a higher level of proficiency and competency that emergent readers have not yet achieved. Emergent readers are still in the early stages of their literacy journey, primarily focused on letter recognition, phonemic awareness, and the basics of comprehension rather than advanced writing or fluent reading.