A third grade ESE student with a severe learning disability has just learned how to use letters correctly to write his name. What stage of writing is the student in?

• A. Emergent
• B. Transitional
• C. Fluent
• D. Advanced

Answer: (A)

The student is classified in the emergent stage of writing because this stage typically includes learners who are just beginning to understand the connections between letters and the sounds they represent. In the emergent stage, students are focused on experimenting with writing, often producing letter-like forms or simple words. Since the student has only just learned to use letters correctly to write his name, it indicates that he is beginning to grasp the fundamentals of writing but has not yet developed more advanced skills, such as forming complete sentences or demonstrating a clear understanding of spelling and punctuation.

In contrast, the transitional stage involves students who have progressed beyond basic letter recognition and are beginning to spell more words correctly and write simple sentences. The fluent stage is characterized by a comfort with writing that includes more complex sentence structures, varied vocabulary, and a clearer organizational structure. The advanced stage represents an even higher level of writing proficiency, involving refined skills in style, voice, and composition. Therefore, the emergent stage is the most accurate classification for this student’s current level of writing development.