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As a teacher in training, I am always learning new things about how
children grow and how they learn. Recently, I had the chance to explore the
stages of writing development alongside the general developmental stages, and this
opened my eyes in many ways. At first, I thought they were two separate areas,
one about writing and the other about overall growth but now I see how closely
they connect.
Both types of stages move step by step,
and each stage builds on the one before it. Theorists like Piaget and Vygotsky
explain how children’s thinking and learning skills develop over time, while
Marie Clay and Ferreiro and Teberosky show how this same growth can be seen in
children’s writing, starting from scribbles and moving toward full sentences.
When I understood this connection, I realized that writing development cannot
stand on its own. Children need the foundation of thinking skills before they
can become confident writers.
This understanding is very important
for me as a teacher. If a student is struggling with writing, it might not only
be a problem with spelling or handwriting. It could also mean they are still
growing in their overall development. Knowing this helps me see the bigger
picture. It reminds me to be patient, to give the right support at the right
time, and to match my lessons with where students are in their learning
journey.
For me, this discovery makes teaching
feel more meaningful. It shows me that my role is not just to teach writing
skills, but to guide my students as they grow in all areas. By keeping both
writing stages and developmental stages in mind, I can create lessons that are
more effective, supportive, and connected to the real needs of my students.
This is something I will carry with me as I continue my journey to becoming a
qualified teacher.
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This is a thoughtful post. You have connected cognitive theories from Piaget and Vygotsky with the practical writing stages from Clay, Ferreiro, and Teberosky, which really shows how intertwined child development is. Your point about looking beyond just spelling or handwriting to the bigger developmental picture is especially eye-opening and reminded me how important it is to consider students’ holistic growth. Furthermore, I appreciate the focus on patience and providing support at each stage of a student’s writing journey. This perspective is crucial for creating effective and meaningful lessons. I am interested in how you plan to apply this understanding in your lesson planning.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your reflection! You made such a strong connection between children’s overall development and their writing growth, it’s something I hadn’t fully considered until now. I agree that writing and cognitive development are deeply intertwined. When we think about Piaget and Vygotsky’s theories alongside Marie Clay’s work, it becomes clear that a child’s ability to write meaningfully depends on how their thinking and understanding evolve over time.
ReplyDeleteI also appreciate your point about patience and recognizing that writing struggles might stem from broader developmental needs, not just issues with spelling or handwriting. That’s such a valuable reminder for us as teachers in training to look at the whole child rather than just their written work.
Your reflection really reinforced the idea that teaching writing isn’t about isolated skills but about nurturing growth across multiple dimensions, thinking, language, and creativity. It also inspired me to be more intentional in how I plan lessons, ensuring that each student gets the kind of support they need based on where they are developmentally.
It’s a beautiful reminder that when we understand how children grow; we can teach in ways that truly help them flourish as writers and learners.
Ariel your reflection beautifully captured the connection between general developmental stages and writing development. I really liked how you linked theorists such as Piaget, Vygotsky, and Marie Clay to show that thinking and writing grow hand in hand. That insight reminded me that when students struggle with writing, we must look beyond mechanics and consider their overall cognitive and emotional growth. It’s a great reminder that teaching writing means supporting the whole child, not just the skill. Thank you for such a thoughtful post, it truly deepened my understanding of how development and writing work together.
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