Seven Stages of Children's Writing Development (Apple Slice, Feb 2020)

Summary

This script outlines the critical stages of children's writing development, starting from scribbling to conventional letter writing. It emphasizes the importance of scribbling as a foundation for writing skills and describes the progression from mock handwriting to phonetic spelling. The script also offers practical advice for adults to support children's writing journey, including providing diverse writing materials, engaging in meaningful conversations about their writing, modeling writing behaviors, and fostering a print-rich environment.

Takeaways

• 🖊️ Scribbling is a foundational stage in children's writing development.
• 📝 Mock handwriting is an imitation of cursive writing that children use in play scenarios.
• 🔤 Children's first attempts at conventional letters often appear as mock letters in their drawings.
• 👶 The first letters children usually master are those in their own names.
• 📚 Children begin to cluster letters to form what looks like words, even if the letters are random.
• 📖 Phonetic spelling is used by children as they learn to spell based on letter sounds.
• 📘 The first words children spell conventionally often include their own name, 'mom', 'dad', 'dog', and 'cat'.
• 🔄 Overlapping stages in writing development are normal as children experiment with different writing tools.
• 📈 Providing a variety of paper and writing tools can support children's writing skills.
• 🗣️ Talking to children about their writing is beneficial, but it's important to respect their focus on the writing process.
• 📚 Having plenty of print material in the classroom helps children understand how letters form words.

Q & A

What is considered the first stage of writing development?

The first stage of writing development is scribbling, where children make random marks on paper.

What is mock handwriting and how does it relate to writing development?

Mock handwriting is an imitation of cursive writing that appears as a wavy line. It's a stage where children imitate writing without forming actual letters.

In what contexts might children use mock writing during play?

Children might use mock writing during dramatic play, such as when they write a grocery list or take a food order at a classroom café.

What are mock letters and where might you find them?

Mock letters are letter-like shapes that are a child's first attempt at making conventional alphabet letters. They might be seen in drawings, used as labels.

How do children's initial attempts at writing letters progress?

Children's initial attempts at writing letters start with mock letters and gradually become more realistic, resembling actual letters of the alphabet.

What is the significance of a child's first conventionally spelled word?

A child's first conventionally spelled word is usually their own name, followed by other simple words like 'mom', 'dad', 'dog', and 'cat'.

How do children begin to form words in their writing?

Children begin to cluster conventional letters to make them appear as words, although the letters in these 'words' are random and do not spell an actual word.

What is phonetic spelling and how does it relate to children's writing?

Phonetic spelling is when children attempt to spell words based on their awareness of letters and their sounds, often using capital letters and focusing on the beginning and final letters of a word.

How can adults support children's writing through the various stages?

Adults can support children's writing by providing a variety of paper and writing tools, offering opportunities to write, discussing their writing, serving as a model, having print material available, and reading to them while pointing out words and letters.

Why is it important for adults to accept all children’s writing as important?

Accepting all children’s writing as important, from the earliest scribbles to conventional letters and words, validates their efforts and encourages their development in writing skills.

How can the presence of print material in the classroom aid in writing development?

Having plenty of print material in the classroom exposes children to written language, helping them recognize letters and words, and understand how they work together.

What role do spaces play in helping children understand written language?

Spaces in written text indicate the separation of words, helping children understand that a group of letters forms a word and that a space signifies the start of a new word.