With the experiences of both of my kids, I have come to believe that reading is as much of a developmental milestone as walking. Although it can be taught, it is really more something that just happens when it happens.
Both of my kids knew their letters and sounds before age 2, and had many sight words before age 3. They could sound out words at 4 and went into kindergarten only slightly ahead of the game in reading.
But sometime during that year, it clicked and they skyrocketed. My daughter came out of Kindergarten reading on a 4th grade level, and my son on a 3rd.
