Stages of Writing Development
The Scribbling and Drawing Stage
- Writing using simplest forms, such as, marks, scribbles and lines of loops.
- Drawings represent meaning using signs, symbols and figures.
- Building wrist and hand muscle control, grasping strength and eye-hand coordination.
Pre-phonemic Stage
- Scribbles gradually change into little marks, also called “mock letters”.
- Actual letters start to be seen among the “mock letters”, typically the first letter of the child’s name.
- Children at this stage are gaining more small muscle (fine motor) control.
Early Phonemic Stage
- Letters represent sounds.
- Uses 1-2 uppercase consonant letters in writing (i.e. MDIF, My dad is fishing).
The Letter-Naming Stage
- Uses more than 1-2 consonant letters.
- Begins to use one or more vowels.
The Transitional Stage
- Writing looks like English.
- Use sound to symbol spelling mixed with conventional spellings.
- Over generalizes spelling rules and patterns.
- Exploring text directional format