Which stage of literacy development involves identifying letters and words?

The stage of literacy development known as Emergent Literacy is characterized by the early skills and understandings that children develop as they begin to read and write. This stage includes recognizing that letters represent sounds and that words are made up of these letters. Children in this phase start to identify letters and learn their names and sounds, which is foundational for reading.

Emergent Literacy encompasses the initial experiences with books, print awareness, and understanding that print carries meaning. At this stage, children often engage in activities like looking at pictures, recognizing familiar words, and understanding the basic concepts of how text works, such as reading from left to right.

In contrast, the other stages focus on different aspects of literacy development. For instance, the Phonemic stage is more concerned with the awareness and manipulation of phonemes, whereas the Fluency stage involves reading with speed and accuracy. The Transitional stage represents a progression in reading where children begin to read more complex texts and refine their reading skills. Thus, Emergent Literacy is the correct choice as it directly relates to the identification of letters and words, laying the groundwork for more advanced literacy skills.