Kroll (1981) Writing Development

Preparatory stage

Children develop motor skills for writing and learn the basics of the spelling system.

Consolidation stage

Children write in a colloquial manner, using short declarative statements and familiar conjunctions. They begin to express ideas in sentences, but with limited punctuation.

Differentiation stage

Children become aware of the difference between spoken and written language conventions. They learn about different genres and start using writing guides and frameworks. They use more complex grammar, sentence structures, and improve punctuation.

Integration stage

Writing becomes more accurate with a wider vocabulary and improved spelling. Children understand that writing style can vary based on audience and purpose. Narrative and descriptive skills improve, and they develop a personal writing style.