Although the focus in the early grades is often on teaching young children how to read, the ultimate goal of reading is to understand the text—whether to learn new information or simply enjoy a story. Building the groundwork needed for this understanding starts right from the beginning of life—and it’s essential from the beginning of school. This article from American Educator details the kind of instruction that should be occurring in kindergarten to second-grade classrooms to support children's language comprehension, especially understanding written language when it is read aloud.

This journal article details the four phases that children move through on their way to becoming confident readers.