Writing
Follow the work of my budding authors.
Children's writing ability develops at different rates of speed. Don't compare your child's writing to other students. Instead, watch as your child moves through the phases of beginning writing at his/her own pace.
First Stage of Beginning Writing
The first stage of beginning writing involves the writer realizing the written word conveys the message to the reader. The child realizes people read the “letters” so he simulates writing by recording a bunch of letters. Typically at this stage, the child will approach the teacher and say, “I wrote a story! What does it say?”
There is no connection of letter sound/symbol at this stage.
Transformer Day on Christmas December 3rd, 2007
Ahhhlhbdhhhl (Child’s writing)
“Transformer day on Christmas.”
Second Stage of Beginning Writing
In the second stage, a young writer records the beginning sound for each word in the story.
The writer usually needs support from the teacher when commencing this phase. The teacher stretches the words slowly and prompts the child to record the beginning sound.
Video Game January 3rd, 2008
i m p a v g (Child’s writing)
“I am playing a video game.”
Third Stage of Beginning Writing
In the next phase, the writer records the ending sounds as well, usually hard consonant sounds.
Again, it may take a teacher’s prompting to get the child to record more than just the beginning sounds. The teacher may need to stretch the words for the child emphasizing the ending sound and asking, “What other sounds do you hear in the word?”.
Thanksgiving November 28th, 2007
i st w mi fd. (Child’s writing)
“I slept with my friend.”
Fourth Stage of Beginning Writing
In the next phase, the writer hears and records the beginning, medial, and final sound. The writer is also building a vocabulary of sight words to use. In this phase, the child is able to write independently with little support from the teacher.
New Year’s Eve January 2nd
me and my fumle wthd Hannah mohtnu
“Me and my family watched Hannah Montana.”
Fifth Stage of Beginning Writing
In the next phase, the writer is able to record the story quickly using invented spelling (recording the beginning, medial, and ending sounds) and sight words. The text will also look more conventional with a capital at the begining of the sentence and the rest written in lowercase letters. The writer is able to create longer, multi-sentenced stories.
This is my goal phase for each and every one of my kindergarten students for June. I want them to feel so comfortable with writing down their ideas and recording the sounds and sight words, that they can write longer, more detailed work independently.
