What does "developmental reading" focus on?

Developmental reading primarily centers around the systematic progression of reading skills as students advance through their education. This approach emphasizes the teaching of reading in a sequential manner, catering to the varying levels of understanding and ability among children as they move from one grade to the next. It integrates the development of phonemic awareness, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension skills to build a solid foundation for reading.

As students grow, developmental reading programs often adapt to reinforce these foundational skills while also addressing the different challenges that arise as text complexity increases. This focus on nurturing reading abilities over time distinguishes developmental reading from the other options, which either target specific populations or skills not geared toward foundational growth in reading proficiency across grade levels.