1. Assessment Tools for Early Writing
Reported by: Karla Gaerlan
August 10, 2013

2. Early Attempts at Writing:
Scribbles, Lines & Drawings

3. 1 ½ years old: Fine motor skills starts to improve steadily
Physical readiness in his grab and hold of a crayon
Some scribble vigorously
Others start cautiously—
they'll drag a crayon around on paper, doodling carelessly

4. 1 ½ years old: Children develop at different rates
Around 16 months: scribbling pro
Own gallery of drawings for the refrigerator

5. Almost 2 years old:
apparent shapes, though does not yet form letters and numbers
difficulty in holding and writing crayons or pencils in forming such figures
fascinated by anything he/she can draw with crayons, pens, and colored pencils

6. Almost 2 years old:
the prime time for crayon scribbles on the wall. Furthermore
starting to spend longer on each individual drawing
covering more of the paper rather than making a single swirl

7. 2- 2 ½ years old: scribbles to true art
more interested in coloring and painting
adding colors and trying to represent real objects and things

8. 2 ½- 3 years old:
hold a thick pencil or crayon solidly in a writing position
According to Nina Lief, a child development expert and co-author of The First Three Years of Life
children this age are usually able to master the up-and-down movement required to make a "V," which is a little trickier and requires more skill than making a straight line

9. 2- 2 ½ years old: language into his drawings
larger scribbles are figures
chicken scratches are attempts at letters or words
start signing his pictures

10. 2 ½- 3 years old: circular strokes
Some will able to write a few letters or marks
Some will start to write their first name or a few letters of it

11. Pre-schooler (4-5 y/o) more skilled at using crayons and pencils
more elaborate and accurate drawings
horizontal lines, copy a circle and a square, and draw people
before entering kindergarten, most children would already start and know how to write their first name

12. Early Writing: requires knowledge of the ff: Alphabet Recognition
Spelling skills and reading comprehension
Teachers must assess their students' writing skills at designated intervals throughout the year to ensure that progress is being made

13. Early Writing: Alphabet Recognition:
For beginners: alphabet recognition with students three to four times a year by showing either an uppercase or lowercase letter
The student must tell the teacher what letter it is
provide the sound of the letter

14. Early Writing: Spelling Tests:
administered throughout the year: both reading and writing skills
Teachers should only ask words that the students are expected to have learned prior to the exam.

15. Early Writing:
A spelling exam is generally not advised for kindergarten
at least 15 words per test are suggested for first graders Second and third graders can show mastery of up to 25 words per exam
spelling bee in class, asking student to spell words out loud

16. Early Writing:
Children who are still not capable in writing should not be easily judged
Parents or teachers should not feel pressured to push a child in learning how to write
a developmental skill that does not have a formal timetable A toddler can take his/her time and still be developmentally on track

17. Early Writing:
However, children who still exhibit problems in writing by the time in which they should be actually starting to demonstrate writing skills should not be ignored
should be given an intervention so that the child could catch up with his class