Writing disability: A Framework of Writing skills
A writing disability can occur when children do not master phonics. However, phonics is just one component of reading. The framework below provides an outline for all of the skills that learners need to master in order to become efficient readers.
Writing Skills Framework
Handwriting
Spelling
Writing fluency
Writing compositions- Sentences
Writing compositions- Text
Children learn to write by mastering the skills listed above. The five skills or five components of writing develop mostly in the order as written. But, like most aspects of child development, skills do not unfold in a linear manner. Instead, they unfold in a zig-zag fashion, or in a pattern of overlapping waves. Let’s look at this more closely.
Mastery of handwriting/ transcription.
The first skill to master is the skill of handwriting and transcription. The young writer has to develop their fine motor skills and be able to print all of the letters of the alphabet neatly. They do this by copying letters or copying words. After a while, they can print all of the letters of the alphabet from memory, and might even be able to print their name. The next step is when they use their transcription skills to spell words. This is where phonics becomes so important, the same skill that we discussed on the Reading Skills page. Spelling requires the young writer to remember the letters that go with each sound, and to be able transcribe spoken words into printed words.
Spelling (Encoding/ Phonics).
Take a look at the page dedicated to the Essential Skills for Reading. On that page, you’ll learn about phonics. Phonics instruction introduces the young reader to printed letters and words, and connects letters and words to their sounds. Mastery in phonics in reading is the skill of reading decoding. Phonics instruction also helps with writing. Phonics instruction in writing is the skill of encoding. When the young writer learns how to spell, they have to listen to spoken sounds (or spoken words), and then print the letters and words that go with the sounds that they heard. Spelling instruction helps to reinforce reading skills, just as reading instruction helps to reinforce spelling skills. If the young writer has already started to learn to read, they will already know which sounds go with which letters. Their reading decoding skills can help them with writing (encoding) skills.
Spelling instruction in English is more complex than spelling instruction in other languages. There are a lot of words in English that do not follow the rules of phonics. These words have irregular spelling. Irregular words do not follow the sound-symbol rules or phonics rules. Spelling requires memorizing how to spell irregular words, as well as learning to spell words based on the sounds of English.
Writing fluency and automaticity.
Writing fluency refers to quickly transcribing poken words into printed words. once handwriting and spelling skills become secure, the young writer has to move to fluency. Fluency refers to quickly transcribing spoken words into printed words. If you can’t transcribe quickly, it’s much harder to make the shift to writing compositions. Just as the young reader has to shift from reading decoding to reading automaticity, the young writer has to be able to shift from encoding words smoothly to encoding words automatically. Automaticity refers to automatically printing words without anyone necessarily speaking them first. When we become automatic writers, we are moving automatically from just thinking about a word to its printed counterpart on the page.
Writing compositions- sentences.
Writing fluency refers to smoothly transcribing spoken words into written words. Once the young writer starts to shift to writing fluency, they can shift their focus to writing sentences. At this stage of writing, they can learn about punctuation and grammar, and also learn different types of writing forms. Sentence-level writing can occur before a child masters writing automaticity. However, it’s easier to make the shift to writing sentences if you have already started to show writing automaticity. Spelling instruction continues even when children have mastered writing fluency.
Writing compositions- text.
Text-level writing can occur before a child masters writing automaticity. Writing automaticity now also includes writing sentences automatically, especially simple sentences, and spelling for irregular words. When chilren make the shift to automatic writing, they can dedicate their learning to the production of text. They start to master writing concepts such as “main idea,” “introductory paragraph” or “supporting paragraph” or ‘Plot, characters, and setting.”
LEARNING AND TEACHING :
If your child is struggling to master the goal of writing, use the framework to identify your child’s main challenges. Which skills are they struggling to master? Then, identify your child’s strengths. Which parts of the Writing Framework have they mastered? Remember that your child’s developmental age has to be taken into consideration. You will want to support your child’s growth in all of the skills of the Writing Framework. However, the pace of your child’s learning and the pace of your teaching will depend upon your child’s developmental age. Once you have identified the writing objectives that apply to your child (what your child needs to learn and what you need to teach), it’s much easier to figure out how your child should learn, and how you should be teaching. Most parents do not know how to teach all of the skills shown in the framework. You should seek professional supports at your child’s school or elsewhere.
Learn and teach handwriting skills and transcription
Learn and teach spelling skills
Learn and teach to write fluently
Learn and teach writing sentences
Learn and teach writing paragraphs
The objectives you choose for your child to learn can be anywhere in the Writing Framework outlined above. Remember that there are many possible writing objectives that your child may need to master at school. Professionals who can help you identify writing objectives for your child to master include occupational therapists, general and special education teachers.