At which stage should students gain fluency in reading to read simple stories with less sounding out?

The appropriate stage at which students should gain fluency in reading simple stories with less sounding out is the fluency stage. At this stage, students are able to read smoothly and with expression, demonstrating their ability to recognize words quickly and comprehend text without needing to decode each word individually. Fluency is crucial for developing a love of reading and for fostering comprehension, as students begin to focus more on the meaning of the text rather than the mechanics of reading.

In the initial alphabet stage, students are primarily learning letter names and sounds, focusing on basic decoding skills. The full alphabet reading stage involves students gaining a stronger understanding of phonics and beginning to read short texts but still requires significant sounding out. The advanced reading stage typically involves more complex texts and deeper comprehension skills, which would be beyond the scope of simply reading simple stories. Therefore, the fluency stage is where students transition into more confident and proficient readers, making it the correct answer for the question.