These are learners who recently started learning to write. Usually, these are kids who are still in the experimental writing stage. They would typically scribble a lot in the process of conveying a message. Kids as young as two years old begin to mimic the act of writing by creating symbolic markings and drawings that represent their ideas and thoughts. This is the starting of a series of stages that kids progress through as they learn to write.
Emergent writers discover different methods to send written messages. Here’re some writing samples that can be commonly seen in a kindergarten classroom.
Drawing and imitative writing: In this kind of early writing, kids write a message or share ideas through imitative writing and drawings. Random letters and scribbling are often seen as an imitation of grown-up writing.
Copying words: The kids copy words from handy resources such as word walls, books, and posters. The writer might or might not know the meaning of the words.
Strings of letters and drawing: The kids write with random letters but have a certain message to convey. The letters often don’t have any relationship to conventional spelling or sounds.
Early phonetic writing: The kids write connected letters (mainly consonants) to represent words. Sometimes, the letter’s sound is used for a word.
Phonetic writing: The kids write words using letters to represent every sound that’s heard. Vowels and consonants are used. Kids might also use some punctuation.
Conventional phonetic writing: The kids increasingly write with conventional structures and spellings. Letters’ formation is also more conventional.
Teachers can utilize the following strategies to foster the growth of emergent writers.
Practicing name writing: Name writing increases kids’ procedural and conceptual knowledge. Names are meaningful to kids, and preschoolers typically remain interested in learning to write their names’ letters, particularly the first letter. Proficiency in name writing also provides a foundation for other literacy skills and knowledge.
Learning from teacher modeling: Kids benefit from instructors modeling writing and from the opportunities to interact with other students on writing projects. Instructors can think aloud about composing a message, connect writing to kids’ topics of interest, and explain how to decide what to write.
Writing throughout the day: Preschoolers like experimenting with the writing process. Emergent writing processes can have spontaneous writing during teacher-guided and center time writing activities. Writing can become a vital component of every learning center, especially if instructors strategically place different writing materials throughout the classroom and provide special guidance on utilizing them.
