During which stage of reading development does mastery of the alphabet and simple words occur?

The mastery of the alphabet and simple words occurs during the Pre-Reading Stage. At this stage, children are typically learning to recognize letters and understand the sounds they make, which forms the foundation for reading. This involves gaining familiarity with the alphabet, learning to identify letters, and beginning to blend sounds to form simple words. Children are also often engaged in activities that promote phonemic awareness, which is essential for subsequent reading skills.

In contrast, the Fluency Stage is characterized by the ability to read texts smoothly and with expression, indicating a more advanced level of reading where comprehension and speed are emphasized rather than the initial learning of the alphabet and simple words. The Comprehension Stage focuses on understanding and interpreting text, which comes after basic reading skills are developed. The Phonetic Stage refers to learning how sounds correspond to letters or groups of letters, but the broader term "Pre-Reading Stage" encompasses a wider range of foundational skills, including letter recognition and early word formation.