This PowerPoint Lecture,

Developmental Writing: What Does it

Look Like and How Can It Be
Supported in Preschool, is a thorough and
well researched look at developmental writing.
It was developed in February 2006 by the
California Preschool Instructional Network.
There are many terrific modules on their
website (http://www.cpin.us/modules.htm)
 I present this to you with some slides
added with examples, clarity of point
and for addition of material. To visit
the original document on-line, click on
the following URL
http://www.cpin.us/docs/mod_writing2.3.06final.p
df
“Becoming literate in the modern world is
indeed an increasingly complex task.
Reading and writing abilities don’t just
happen. They are acquired, nurtured and
refined through the acts of those who
provide appropriate instructional contexts
and support.”
D. S.Strickland.
Rutgers -The State University of New Jersey
 Receptive and Expressive Oral and Written Language
Receptive Language Expressive Language
Oral Language Listening Speaking
Written Language Reading Writing
(decoding and (handwriting, spelling,
comprehension) written composition)

Oral Language development precedes and is the following for written language
development, in other words, oral language is primary and written language builds
on it. Children’s oral language competence is strongly predictive of their facility in
learning to read and write: listening and speaking vocabulary and even mastery of
syntax set boundaries as to what children can read and understand no matter how
well they can decode. (Catts, Adolf & Weismer, 2006, Hart & Risley, 1995, Hoover &
Gough, 1990, Snow, Burns & Griffin, 1998).

For children in preschool and the early grades, receptive and expressive abilities do
not develop simultaneously or at the same pace: receptive language generally
precedes expressive language. Children need to be able to understand words before
they can produce and use them.
 30%,
20 %,
15 %,
According to the SWEEP 10 %
Studies, what percentage of the
preschool school day was spent or
on Writing (including writing,
pretending to write, using a less?
keyboard or tracing)?
Time devoted to writing, pretending
to write, using keyboard, or tracing
Emergent
Writing:
What It Is
and
Why It is
Important
 Why Writing?
Writing combines phonemic
awareness, alphabet
knowledge, and meaning.

Teachers can model the

production and use of print.

Early writing builds

preschoolers’ fine motor
skills and their literacy
 What can children learn from
these different types of writing?

Teacher Dictation Student Writing

Ways to Model Writing in
Preschool Class
Developmental
Stages
of Writing
(Watch the video
below for a great
overview)

www.youtube.com/watch?
v=vZ-9uF-NAig
English is an Alphabetic Language.

Chinese is a Logographic Language

Alphabetic
Language
Logographic Language
 Ape Apple
Long vowel phoneme Short vowel phoneme
Environments that Support Writing
The following pictures are all about
classroom experiences that support
the development of writing.

Go through the photos and think

about how they support writing
development.