Arkansas Foundations of Reading Test (FORT)

In the emergent stage of writing development, what do children begin to use to write words?

1. Understanding of letter-sound relationships

2. Grammar rules

3. Advanced punctuation

4. Peer feedback

The correct answer is: Understanding of letter-sound relationships

In the emergent stage of writing development, children begin to recognize and utilize letter-sound relationships, which are foundational for spelling and writing words. This stage marks a critical transition where children start to make connections between sounds they hear in words and the corresponding letters or letter combinations. As they explore writing, they often engage in phonetic spelling, where they write what they hear rather than adhering to conventional spelling rules. This understanding of the sounds letters make is essential for developing literacy skills, as it fosters the ability to decode words and contributes to the child's overall reading development. Other choices, such as grammar rules, advanced punctuation, and peer feedback, typically come into play in later stages of writing development, as children become more proficient and start to focus on refining their writing skills.