Over my two decades as a literacy specialist, I have observed distinct reading behaviors across various age groups and grade levels. While some of these behaviors may look like reading, not all truly are. In fact, many students get "stuck" in one mode of reading; often appearing independent because they meet surface-level benchmarks, while lacking the deeper skills required for true comprehension and independent learning.
In this blog, we will briefly explore three common behaviors often mistaken for reading and the one essential behavior that sets students on the path to becoming lifelong learners.
What Is Reading?
Reading is far more than simply calling out words. My working definition:
"Reading is a dynamic process that connects print to the brain through a complex interplay of cognitive and linguistic skills, including eye coordination, comprehension, speaking, questioning, inferencing, and making personal connections to the text” (Henry, 2025).
Whether the text involves words or pictures, the goal of reading is comprehension. True reading requires a reader to think critically, make inferences, analyze, form opinions, and synthesize ideas; all while navigating the structure and meaning of the text. You can also explore other definitions of what reading entails, provided by organizations like the International Literacy Association (ILA) to complement this perspective.
1) Picture Reading
This is typically the earliest form of “reading,” where children narrate stories using only the images in a book. It is common among toddlers, preschoolers, and even early-kindergarten students. Picture reading plays a valuable role in early literacy by nurturing vocabulary development, imagination, storytelling skills, and understanding of narrative structure (e.g., beginning, middle, end, characters, setting, and conflict/resolution).
📝 Tip for Growth
Encourage children to dictate their picture-based stories and write them down. Then, let them practice reading what they have “written.”
"What is thought of can be spoken; what is spoken can be written; what is written can be read." (Unknown).
2) Memorization & Mimicking
Some students “read” by memorizing familiar texts or mimicking what they have heard before. While this involves some literacy awareness, it does not reflect actual decoding or comprehension. This strategy is often a coping mechanism that readers use to hide their difficulties and avoid the embarrassment of struggling with reading.
📺 A great example of this behavior appears in Season 1, Episode 4 of “Abbott Elementary,” where a student impresses others with high reading scores, only to later be revealed as relying solely on memorization.
📝 Tip for Growth
Use unfamiliar but grade-appropriate texts for assessments. Incorporate echo reading or shared reading to model authentic reading behaviors and strengthen decoding skills. Additionally, facilitators or parents can apply the Language Experience Approach (LEA) to help readers connect personal experiences to text. Teach sight words and new vocabulary separately, then reinforce them in context to support decoding, boost fluency, and build reading confidence. See LEA at the end for more on its use.
3) Word Calling
These students can read fluently and articulately, often impressing teachers and parents. However, they may not truly understand what they are reading. Without comprehension, fluency is just word-calling, not actual reading. Unfortunately, this is a level at which many of our students are currently functioning. The good news is that these readers are not struggling with decoding; they are fluent and confident. With this foundation, they are well-positioned to transition into learning and applying strategies that strengthen comprehension and enable them to answer questions effectively across all levels of understanding.
📝 Tip for Growth
Support these students by developing comprehension strategies. Practice summarizing, recalling key details, and answering questions across all comprehension levels (literal, inferential, and critical).
Note key details while reading by underlining them. Be able to quickly retell, determine what type of questions are being asked, and where to find the answers. See the eBooks – 7 Powerful Tips to Master Reading Comprehension Questions, Where Are the Answers? Unlocking The Secret to Reading Comprehension and Mastering the Levels of Reading Comprehension and Excel. These resources highlight strategies specific to strengthening comprehension skills and locating answers to questions easily.
4) Reading for Understanding (The Goal!)
This is where true reading happens. These students not only read fluently but also interact deeply with the text. They ask questions, infer meaning, analyze the author’s intent, and connect the text to their experiences and background knowledge.
Reading for understanding incorporates all earlier behaviors but elevates them into a cohesive, thoughtful process. It requires decoding, fluency, expression, comprehension, and the ability to synthesize information. These skills should be taught and practiced for mastery.
Skilled readers:
- Engage with both pictures and text.
- Read between the lines.
- Make predictions and verify them.
- Detect tone, purpose, and perspective.
- Know where to find answers to different types of questions.
📘 For further reading, check out the E-book: Where Are the Answers? Unlocking The Secret to Reading Comprehension
📝 Tip for Growth:
Intentionally teach and assess all reading skills—decoding, fluency, comprehension, analysis, and critical thinking. Develop a culture of thinking deeply about texts, not just reading them aloud. Connect with the text by relating the text to experience, the text to world, and the text to text.
Final Thoughts
Every child begins their reading journey somewhere, often with pictures, memorization, or fluent word calling. But the goal is always the same: to move toward reading with understanding. Only then can students truly unlock the power of reading, not just as a school skill, but as a life skill.
📊Get the free eBook version to explore Parent Tips for Enhancing Reading Behaviors at Home by Grade Level and to learn more about the Language Experience Approach (LEA).
Get it here: https://forms.gle/6BGKJkyQW9oNX8H27
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This was a great reminder of how fostering engaged reading habits can support lifelong learning!