Developmental+Stages+of+Writing

= Developmental Stages of Writing... = = =




 * Beginning Writing -** This stage is where young children use drawings to represent and communicate a message while ‘reading out’ their narrative relating to the drawing. The writing can occur as different shapes or in scribble-like lines that may follow a left to right pattern. As children engage with the writing process, they are exploring the process they have observed adults engaging in.


 * Early Emergent Writing** - In this stage, children begin to explore the use of symbols (both drawings and letters) to represent words. The child may draw a picture and then write some of the letters that represent that picture. By doing this, the child demonstrates an understanding of directionality and placement of the picture and understands the concept of a written word as a separate entity. [[image:stage3.gif width="120" height="100" align="right" caption="Early Emergent Writing"]]


 * Emergent Writing -** In this stage, children begin to create more letter-like shapes, with spaces between the letters. Children may begin to use sequences of letters such as those in their own name, and repeat each letter several times as they refine the way that letters are made.

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 * Early Writing -** In this stage, children continue to create or invent spellings of words. Differences between capitals and lower case become apparent. Spacing between words becomes more consistent. As they continue to explore their understanding of the concepts of written language, they enjoy copying letters, words and s [[image:stage5.gif width="393" height="254" align="right" caption="Emergent to Early Writing"]] entences.