Early
Writing Development
If you have
read my Writing Workshop article, then you
know how important writing is in my classroom. As my children write everyday,
I am constantly observing and recording their movement through the following
stages. It's important to date and keep samples to truly give you an overview
of the children's progress.
Though
most children in pre-kindergarten or kindergarten are approximately the
same age, their writing levels usually have a wide range. Some children
may be scribbling, but can tell you what their pictures are about. With
daily writing experiences young children will move through various writing
stages, at various rates. Our task is to help the young child grasp the
relationship between text and illustration. The teacher can help children
progress in their writing development by modeling writing everyday and
providing children with varied writing activities. Analyzing each child’s
writing level will also help the teacher in providing meaningful experiences
that develop young writers.
Stage
1
Drawing/Picture
Writing
In the drawing
and picture writing stage, children begin to express their thoughts and
feelings, the pictures are usually unrecognizable.
Stage
2
Scribbling
At this
stage, the child begins to draw somewhat recognizable shapes and may tell
about the picture. The child may try to imitate writing, as well.
Stage
3
Random
Letters
The child
begins to print his or her own name and may put strings of letter with
his/her picture. They may attempt to read the message, but it is probably
still unrecognizable
Stage
4
Semi-phonetic(Early
Spelling)
The child
begins to use some letters to match sounds, often using a beginning letter
to represent the whole word. They may begin to use left to right progression,
but letter reversals are still common.
Stage
5
Phonetic
At this
stage, children begin to write words with beginning and ending sounds.
They also begin to spell some high frequency words correctly. Vowels may
be inserted into words, but usually aren’t the right ones.
Stage
6
Transitional
Spelling
At this
stage, children are writing words the way they sound. They are beginning
to leave spaces between words and spell many high frequency words correctly.
They use punctuation marks, sometimes correctly. They begin to write one
or more sentences.
Stage
7
Conventional
Spelling
At this
level children spell most words correctly, though phonetic based spelling
still comes into play when they must spell longer words. They begin
to use punctuation marks correctly and use capital and lower case letters
in the correct places.
.
Sources:
Early Literacy Assessment
McGraw Hill Publishing, 1997
Kid Writing
Eileen G. Feidus and Isabel Cardonick, Wright Group Pub., 1999
Invitations
Reggie Routman, Heinemann Pub. 1995
