Stages of Writing
Your Kindergartener will go through different developmental stages of writing while in the classroom. Below are the stages that we will use to assess your child's writing skills. Please do not expect your child to reach Level 8 by the end of their time in Kindergarten. This is simply an overview of the different stages all writers go through, regardless of their age. My goal is for each child to enjoy writing and to begin to understand how to become a better writer. Please remember that your child learned to speak gradually, and you celebrated each attempt. Together, let’s celebrate your child’s attempts and continual growth as a beginning writer!
There are webs in Spidertown.
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Level 3: Precommunicative
Your child may now be printing his or her own name or an occasional known word and may be writing strings of letterlike forms or a series of random letters. Sometimes he or she may attempt to read the message back, but you probably can't read it. |
I found a lamp and a genie came out.
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Level 5: Phonetic
Now your child writes most words using beginning and ending consonant sounds and spells some frequently used words correctly. He or she may begin to add vowel sounds, but they are often not the correct ones. At this level, your child may begin to leave spaces between words. It's getting easier to read your child's writing. |
Once upon a time, there was (were) four butterflies. They went on an adventure in the woods.
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Level 6: Transitional
At this level, your child is writing words the way they sound, representing most syllables in words. He or she may sometimes be adding an extra silent e at the end of a word or doubling letters when they're not needed while trying visually to remember how spelling works. Now your child usually leaves spaces between words and is spelling many words correctly as he or she writes more than one sentence. |
Dear Blue Ranger,
Why do you fight? I see you on TV. You are the best. Why do you go to the command center? Why are you on Fox Kids? I like your show. Are you my friend? Love, Alex |
Level 7: Conventional
At this level, your child spells most words correctly, although he or she may use phonics-based spelling for advanced words. Remember, we can only expect children to correctly spell words they have already learned! Now your child is usually using capital and lowercase letters and periods and question marks correctly. |
Level 8: Traditional
Advanced writers use a rich, varied body of written vocabulary. They may still use phonics-based spelling for advanced words, but have mastered the spelling of commonly used words. At this level, your child uses quotation marks, commas, and apostrophes correctly and usually organizes writing into appropriate paragraphs. |