Written development stage theory

Barclay’s stages of writing

1) scribbling

2) mock handwriting

3) mock letters

4) conventional letters

5) invented spelling

6) appropriate spelling

7) correct spelling

Barclay’s scribbling stage

no letters/words, often talks through as doing, uncertain about control of pencil

Barclay’s mock handwriting stage

letter-like shapes, not fully comprehensible

Barclay’s mock letters stage

letters form, but not as words, and with irregular spacing

Barclay’s conventional letters stage

sounds are linked to letters (GPCs) but still not words, sometimes words are reduced to first letter or to key consonants

Barclay’s invented spelling stage

phonetic spelling, simple/familiar words often accurate

Barclay’s appropriate spelling stage

sentence complexity increases, standard spelling often, legible

Barclay’s correct spelling stage

more accurate than not, sometimes cursive

Kroll’s writing stages

1) preparatory

2) consolidation

3) differentiation

4) integration

Kroll’s preporatory stage

motor skills acquired, basic spelling system

Kroll’s consolidation stage

written reflects spoken, mainly declarative sentences, multiple clauses, struggle to end clauses, limited punctuation

Kroll’s differentiation stage

less speech-like, genre differences, structure, grammar = more complex and accurate, good use of punctuation

Kroll’s integration stage

very accurate, expanded vocab, accurate spelling, use of register, own personal writing style