Emergent Writers

Writing and Art

• Uses art to convey ideas
• Art includes letters (A, B, C)
• Combines writing with art to help convey ideas
• Letters show general directionality, although some letter reversals (“backwards letters”) or left to right writing may appear
• Writes single words from rote or environmental print (Own name, Mom, Exit)

Writing Play

• Play includes pretend writing
• Play includes scribble writing
• Play includes random symbols
• Play includes writing random letters (A, B, C)

Phonemic Representation in Writing

• Demonstrates interest in names of letters
• Demonstrates interest in written representation of specific speech sounds (phonemic awareness)
• Demonstrates knowledge of some letter-sound associations (phonemes)
• Demonstrates knowledge of some letter names
• Child develops from asking What does this say? of own writing to asking How do I write ___?
• Children’s ability to spell words emerges developmentally according to the following sequence, which is represented in kindergarten journals:

Represents words by writing beginning sounds ( for cake)

Represents words by writing beginning and ending sounds ( for cake)

Uses invented spelling (kak for cake)

Cecile Culp Mielenz, Ph.D.
Institute for Educational Development
P.O. Box 718
Medina, WA 98039-0718
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