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From Scribbles to Sentences: Understanding the Developmental Stages of Writing

Home | From Scribbles to Sentences: Understanding the Developmental Stages of Writing

May 2025 | Intellectual Disabilities

“The ONLY way to become a better writer is to write MORE!” – Karen Erickson

Writing is more than the motoric task of putting pencil to paper or fingers to keyboard— it is the composition of text that expresses thoughts and ideas.

Let’s be clear:

  • Writing is communication, not just a motor task.
  • Mastery of spelling and grammar is not a prerequisite to being a writer.
  • All students—regardless of ability or background—can learn and develop literacy skills, including writing.

This inclusive mindset is crucial for educators who support developing writers. Recognizing that writing is a journey allows us to honor and encourage growth at every stage.

The Developmental Stages of Writing

Understanding how writing develops helps us support writers where they are and celebrate every milestone along the way. Let’s explore the various stages.

Scribbling

At this earliest stage, children explore the physical act of writing.

  • Movements are random and exploratory.
  • Scribbling is accidental, joyful, and full of possibility.
  • Students imitate the writing of adults.
a sample 0of a student's scribbles
We must ask scribblers to tell us what they have written so that we can include this information, as shown above. Doing so allows all readers to enjoy their work.

Letter-Like Forms

Children begin to mimic the structure of letters, often inspired by their environment.

  • They create mock letters.
  • Writing samples may include letters from their name or recognizable print from the world around them.
example of a letter-like form writing sample

Letter Strings

There’s a growing awareness of how writing works.

  • Text flows from left to right.
  • Children may write their name or familiar words in strings of recognizable characters.
two writing samples that fit within the Letter Strings developmental stage
These represent Letter Strings writing samples from two different students. The students used several familiar words.

Invented Spelling

Creativity and phonetic knowledge merge.

  • Familiar words are often spelled correctly.
  • Unfamiliar words are spelled the way they sound.
  • Writing includes mixed case letters and spaces between words.
invented spelling writing example
Notice that most of the words are spelled phonetically.

Conventional Writing

Writers now convey clear ideas using more conventional tools.

  • They use punctuation.
  • Write about personal experiences.
  • Spell high-frequency words accurately.
conventional writing example

Encouraging all Writers

It’s essential to remember: writing is a skill everyone can develop. Progress may look different for each student, but every mark on a page or character on a screen is a step toward communication and confidence.

So, encourage the scribbles, celebrate the inventive spellings, and most importantly—create opportunities for students to write MORE.

During the 2025-2026 school year, T-TAC ODU will offer multiple opportunities for educators to learn more about writing instruction for our students who access the curriculum through the VESOLs.

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